The Every Student Succeeds Act Corey Williams NEA Government Relations

Where have we been? NCLB NCLB circa 2002 increased the federal test requirements to 17 Required the one-size-fits-all AYP Caused massive over-identification of schools across the country US Dept of Ed created a patchwork of waiver relief Required the school improvement models and teacher evaluation systems based on state tests.

NEA’s Core Goals for ESEA Reauthorization Promote equity through a new accountability system with an opportunity dashboard as its centerpiece Decouple high-stakes testing and accountability; promote less testing to give students more time to learn Ensure qualified educators, empowering them to LEAD!

The Long and Winding Road 2002: No Child Left Behind signed into law 2007: No Child Left Behind expires 2009: Stimulus passes which includes Race to the Top, School Improvement Grants, and Grants to Improve Assessments 2009-2015: NCLB Waiver World 4 Congressional reauthorizations attempts! 2007 2011 2013 2015 The fourth time was the charm!

Big Victory, So What’s Next? House passes ESSA - 359 to 64!!! Senate passes ESSA – 85 to 12!!!! Now it is on to the states and locals….

ESSA Implementation = Opportunity What are the biggest opportunities ESSA presents? State developed, meaningful, accountability systems To drive teaching and learning decisions Increase parent and educator involvement What is the headline you want to read if you are successful with implementation?

Every Student Succeeds Act (S. 1177) What’s gone? AYP is gone! No more 100-ways-to-fail! Federal punitive labels for schools are gone! Rigid, non-research based interventions are gone! No more Race to the Top federally required teacher evaluations based on standardized test scores Accountability systems based solely on standardized tests are gone!

Every Student Succeeds Act What concepts remain in federal law? High Standards: Every state must have college and career ready standards Statewide Assessments: Maintains testing in grades 3 – 8, once in HS for math and ELA, gradespan for science…. HOWEVER Requires state and local audits to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary tests. New option for HS assessments New flexibility to create assessment systems that don’t rely on statewide standardized tests Disaggregation: States still required to look at data from subgroups, so groups of students don’t fall through cracks! Interventions: Required for low-performing schools, but no rigid federally prescribed list; must be evidence-based

What’s different about accountability? Accountability systems at state level cannot be based solely on standardized tests! Systems must include: Math, reading assessments Graduation rates Another statewide indicator for middle and elementary schools English Language Proficiency At least one indicator of student success or school support 95% participation rate factored in separately

Strengthening Educator Involvement Maintained paraprofessional qualifications from NCLB Committee of Practitioners Lots of engagement and specific mention of teachers, paraeducators and SISPs in decision making Huge focus on teaching continuum: career ladders, mentoring, professional development

What about School Improvement? Then and Now NCLB ESSA 4% of Title I money could be set aside by states for school improvement School Improvement Grants (SIG) went directly from ED to states to schools with no role for districts 7% of Title I money MUST be set aside by states for school improvement $500 million that paid for SIG has rolled over into Title I, and districts will be involved in improvement planning and monitoring (giving states the same amount of money as before)

School Improvement - Now States will have to create a system to identify two types of schools: Subgroup schools – identify schools that have consistently underperforming subgroups Differentiation based on all indicators Districts create the school improvement plan – must make progress in district-defined # of years Lowest performing schools – identify bottom 5% of Title I schools, add high schools with lower than 67% grad rates and lowest subgroup schools Must do a resource equity plan, district develops improvement plan Improve within 4 years or state needs to do more

Other notable improvements: NEW, positive language about Restorative Justice; ending the school to prison pipeline Continued, but greater clarity around Opt Out options for students Stronger mental health support

Additional notable improvements: Improvements to Charter Schools Audits, transparency, community engagement CMO priority changed to diversity Increase in authorization Improvement to Magnet Program Allowance for transportation Matched percentage increase of charter program Well Rounded Students program Safe and healthy: at least 20% Well rounded: at least 20% Technology hardware cap: no more than 15%

Secretarial Prohibitions Prohibitions on USED secretarial authority throughout the bill Focused on prohibiting the specific mandates from the Secretary Restrictions include: Standards and Assessments Elements or percentages of the accountability system Parameters of the system Require additional data collection Exit requirements Teacher evaluation Teacher effectiveness

What happens to NCLB Waivers? Built in transition to the new law Identifying subgroup schools begins 2016 – 2017 Full new accountability plans take effect 2017 – 2018 Technically waivers become null and void on the day the law is signed, but USED already released guidance on transition HQT elimination date is unclear but likely still around for next school year.

ESSA Implementation = Opportunity After nearly 14 years of asking for less federal intrusion into the teaching and learning process, it is finally here! Opportunity for educators and state legislators to drive teaching and learning decisions Opportunity to strengthen partnerships with parents, communities, to advocate for what students really need Expect that some of the federal debate will reappear at the state level

Hand off coming to states and locals… Huge Opportunities to influence multiple decisions, such as: Components of state accountability plans (How much should tests count? What school or student supports should be included?) Opportunity for local assessment pilot What tests should be eliminated? Participation on committee of practitioners How should needs assessments of schools be done? How should interventions be designed and by whom? and the list goes on……

Let’s take advantage of this opportunity! As educators, let’s join with parents and communities to create the schools our students deserve… More opportunities for a well-rounded education Less time testing More supports for students and schools who need help Educators and communities driving decisions Focus on the collaborative process

The Every Student Succeeds Act OPPORTUNITY AWAITS! FIND OUT MORE: www.nea.org/ESSAbegins