Federal Education Policy Update Alaska Superintendents Association September 24, 2015 Rob Larson Director, Strategic Relations

Why Is Federal Education Policy Important? To Us? – District Leaders? ESEA NCLB Every Child Achieves Act Student Success Act

Authorization v. Appropriations

Authorization

Every Child Achieves Act & Student Success Act of 2015 Process People Policy Politics

Process Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (ECAA) – Senate HELP Committee passes bill, April 16, 2015…Bipartisan vote 22‒0 – Symbolic vote has inspired bipartisan support – Passes US Senate (July) Student Success Act (SSA) – Passes US House (July) – Close vote – 27 Rs vote with Ds

Conference Committee 9 th Grade Civics Class Reconcile differences First time in 15 years! In progress…

People Senator AlexanderSenator Murray

More People Senator MurkowskiRepresentative Kline

Policy Explicitly limits federal role Shifts control from feds to states Codifies (institutionalizes) disaggregation of data by subgroup No AYP Includes evidence and innovation

Federal–State Role Secretary prohibited from specifying, defining, or prescribing: – Measurement or inclusion of student growth – Any aspect of teacher or principal evaluation – Standards, measures – State goals – Weighting

Politics Where do we go from here? Prediction is difficult … especially about the future. —Yogi Berra

Politics (But wait, there’s more)

ESEA (ECAA + SSA) Federal–state role Accountability Standards Testing School improvement Evidence and innovation

Accountability No AYP, but state system of accountability 1.Achievement towards goals by subgroups 2.Maintains disaggregation of achievement 3.HS graduation (4 year cohort) rate 4.One statewide indicator of postsecondary readiness 5.Growth measure optional 6.Identify LPS - % up to states Maintains SEA and LEA report cards, adds national report card Eliminates HQT, but requires certification or licensure Portability of Title I – Senate - NO – House - YES

Standards SEAs not required to submit standards to USDOE SEA must adopt challenging content standards (M, R/LA and science) Ensure alignment with IHE entrance State plans (with peer review) in place for 7 years

Testing Requires – Annual academic standards in math, science, reading/language arts – Math, R/LA 3‒8, once in 9‒12 – Senate - Science tested once in 3‒5, 6‒9, 10‒12

School Improvement Prohibition of prescribing specific school improvement strategies or weight of any indicator or measure that a state uses to identify schools SEA to use state accountability system to identify school for “evidence-based” intervention or support

Authorization of ESEA In what ways might these proposed changes impact your work as a superintendent? On your own, then with a partner

Appropriations

House – Slashes ED funding and programs by $2.8B from FY 15 $67.2B to $64.4B – Eliminates 20 programs Senate – Slashes ED funding and programs by $1.7B from FY15 $67.2B to $65.5B – Eliminates 10 programs

Appropriations (Funding of K-12) Shut Down September 30 th (CR) Debt Ceiling Sequestration cuts kick-in...”raise the caps” Presidential veto of any sequestration cuts

My Responsibilities… School AdministratorSchool Leader

Where is the Opportunity? Look at the big picture Be the leadership you need Speak truth to power Partner for solutions – Collaborate, Unify

The Opportunity & Hope is… YOU!