ESSA: The Challenges and Opportunities JARED BILLINGS PROGRAM DIRECTOR EDUCATION DIVISION

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National Governors Association What makes “good policy”

National Governors Association ESSA Overview

National Governors Association The Pendulum of Education Policy STATESFEDERAL Evolution of the Federal Role

National Governors Association State Authority

National Governors Association Accountability in ESSA ESSA Academic Achievement Measure of Student Growth or Other Reliable Measure English Language Proficiency Graduation Rate School Quality  State must create accountability system with long-term goals, interim progress measures, & annual state/district report cards  State must make annual determinations of student & school performance – for all students and subgroups (no super subgroups)

National Governors Association What will the Department Do?  Guidance and Dear Colleague Letters  Peer Review  Public Input  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking  Areas to Watch  Accountability  School Improvement  Assessment

National Governors Association Mar Negotiated Rulemaking NPRM Development* Spring 2016 Aug NCLB Waivers Expire SY ‘16 – ‘17 Oct Competitive Grants in Effect ESSA Enacted Initial Comments & Guidance Dec Jan Transition Year Begins NPRM Released* Summer 2016 Existing State Plans Expire Aug Timeline ESSA Part I

National Governors Association Dec Final Regulation Released* State Legislative Session* Jan New President & Secretary Fall 2017 Sep Accountability in Effect State Policy Development State Plan Development* Fall 2016 States Roll Out New Systems States Submit Plans* Summer 2017 Governor Finalizes Plans* Spring 2017 Timeline ESSA Part II

National Governors Association Three Big Opportunities  Alignment Across the Entire Pipeline  Teachers and Principals  State Innovation

National Governors Association Alignment Across the Entire Pipeline  Standards aligned with credit bearing coursework in higher education and relevant career and technical education standards  States must set “challenging state academic standards” in math, language arts and science. State may set standards in other subjects

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Alignment Across the Entire Pipeline  Preschool Development Grants for governors  Early childhood education transitions to K-12  Early childhood educator development  Early Education & English language learners  State education goals aligned with workforce development plan and state career and technical education initiatives  Career and guidance counseling programs  Industry-recognized credentials  State plan alignment with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

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Governor’s Role- Alignment  ESSA creates a role for governors in federal education policy by including provisions to:  Require state education agencies to develop the state plan with governors;  Require opportunity for gubernatorial sign off on the ESSA state plan.

National Governors Association Teachers and Principals  Eliminates federal requirement for educator evaluation systems with indicators prescribed by the U.S. Secretary of Education  Title II- continues to support efforts to enhance teacher and principal quality

National Governors Association Teachers and Principals  Opportunity to strengthen the development and support of effective principals (optional 3% set-aside to enhance school leaders)  Teacher Preparation Academies

National Governors Association Now that ESSA is law, states should not ask the U.S. Department of Education what to do next. They should ask themselves.

National Governors Association State Innovation There is opportunity to move the field forward in support of:  Personalized learning models and competency- based education systems, and  Richer, more meaningful evidence of learning.  Technology will be a game changer

National Governors Association Innovative Assessment Pilot  May introduce multiple measures to form an index  combine interim, performance-based assessments, computer-based assessments, interim and summative  Ensures rigor, quality, validity  When students are ready to demonstrate mastery  May be used for accountability purposes  Will they approve seven states?

National Governors Association What is next?

National Governors Association School Improvement  Comprehensive Support and Improvement:  Lowest-performing 5% of Title I schools;  High schools with <67% graduation rates; and  Schools with underperforming subgroups  Targeted Support and Improvement:  Schools with consistently underperforming subgroups  Choose your own “evidence based” school improvement strategy  State and Local Resources:  7% Title I set-aside  Optional local 3% Title I set-aside

National Governors Association High-Stakes Testing Tests AYP One-Size Fits-All Assess. State & Local Testing Layers One Federal Measure Label and Punish One Federal Goal No Child Left Behind

National Governors Association Flexible Assessment in ESSA Annual Tests Mixed Delivery 95% Particip. Rate Innovative Assessment HS Exam Substitute Testing Reduction Resources Multiple Measures State School Ratings State Goals

National Governors Association Two Big Challenges  How far will the pendulum swing- party like its 1999?  Change is hard  school year  Flexibility- can be good or bad  Political realities of more state autonomy

National Governors Association Table Discussion  As states begin to explore the flexibility of ESSA what big opportunities do you see in your state?  Big challenges/concerns?

National Governors Association One Big Question  What will we learn from the past- how will we work to improve education for all students?