1. The ESSA devolves much of the policy-making to the state and local level and keeps annual testing but allows states to reduce testing time and eliminate some high-stakes aspects. 2. States can rewrite their accountability systems to include additional indicators of school performance beyond test scores. 3. The ESSA increases funding for new charter schools and charter expansion.

1. Everything You Need to
Know about the ESSA but
Didn’t Know to Ask
Every Student Succeeds Act 2015

2. Our Presenter
Leigh Dingerson

3. 1957 – Efforts to integrate schools are met
with protest and foot-dragging
1965 President Johnson signs the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act,
one of several civil-rights initiatives that
included the Voting Rights Act and the
Civil Rights Act
1954
Brown vs
Board of
Education

4. …more testing
…more
schools closed
…more charters
=

5. Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA)

6. Big Changes:
#1: Devolves much of the policy-making to the state
and local level.
#2: Keeps annual testing, but allows states to reduce
total time spent on tests and test prep. Allows states to
eliminate some of the high stakes.
#3: Allows states to rewrite their accountability
systems and to include additional indicators of school
performance.
#4: Increases funding for new charter schools and
charter expansion.

7. ?
• How will states move forward?
• Where will most of the policy be
determined?
• How much money will be
available?

8.  student engagement;
 educator engagement;
 student access to and completion of advanced
coursework;
 postsecondary readiness;
 school climate and safety;
 any other indicator the State chooses that meets
the requirements of this clause.
State Accountability Plans
For all public schools in the 24 State, not less than one indicator
of school quality or student success… For purposes of subclause
(I), the State may include measures of…

9. Critical elements of
sustainable community schools
Curriculum that is engaging, culturally relevant
and
challenging. It includes a broad selection of
classes and after-school programs in the arts,
languages, and ethnic studies, as well as AP and
honors courses, services for English Language
Learners, special education, GED preparation and
job training.
High quality teaching, not high stakes testing, is
emphasized. Appropriate assessments are used to
help teachers meet the needs of students, and
educators have a real voice in professional
development.
Wrap-around supports such as health care, eye
care and social and emotional services are offered
to assist learning. They are available before, during
and after school and are provided year-round to the
full community. Providers are accountable and
culturally competent.
Positive discipline practices such as restorative
justice and social and emotional learning supports are
stressed so students grow and contribute to the school
community and beyond. Suspensions and harsh
punishments are eliminated or greatly reduced.
Transformational parent and community
engagement is promoted so the full community actively
participates in planning and decision-making. This
process recognizes the link between the success of the
school and the development of the community as a
whole.

10. (B) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY ACTION.—Upon receiving
such information from the State, the local educational agency shall,
for each school identified by the State and in partnership with
stakeholders (including principals and other school leaders, teachers,
and parents), locally develop and implement a comprehensive
support and improvement plan for the school to improve student
outcomes, that—
…(iii) is based on a school-level needs assessment;
(iv) identifies resource inequities, which may include a review of local
educational agency and school-level budgeting, to be addressed
through implementation of such comprehensive support and
improvement plan;

11. Alaska $11,635,421
Arizona $51,714,752
Arkansas $32,608,050
California $519,460,426
Colorado $121,215,721
Connecticut $18,684,492
DC Public Schools 59,385,220
Delaware 10,568,514
Florida 271,523,988
Georgia $62,958,324
Hawaii $16,358,554
Idaho $26,331,041
Illinois $21,391,748
Indiana $62,660,597
Iowa $4,240,000
Kansas $28,271,032
Louisiana $71,804,328
Maryland $32,487,542
Massachusetts $50,361,559
Michigan $131,335,102
Minnesota $107,873,721
Missouri $11,663,077
Nevada $14,857,907
New Hampshire $18,618,160
New Jersey $43,162,694
New Mexico $59,870,822
New York $194,527,653
North Carolina $33,746,130
Ohio $199,954,969
Oklahoma $4,779,600
Oregon $60,799,171
Pennsylvania $53,973,169
Puerto Rico $11,140,544
Rhode Island $11,294,998
South Carolina $48,230,854
Tennessee $35,619,507
Texas $157,49,174
Utah $35,419,927
Virginia $2,063,158
Wisconsin $173,492,343
Total $2,883,533,989
Federal Charter Schools Program: 1995 – 2013
Grants to SEAs for new charter schools
Source: US Department of Education

12. www.reclaimourschools.org
www.annenberginstitute.org