Topics
ID Dept. of Education Forms Working Groups
April 6, 2016
The Dept. of Education announced they will form working groups focused on Idaho’s transition under ESSA. The groups will look at specific issue areas including migrant education, English learners, standards and assessment, accountability, educator effectiveness and others. Read more here.
How States Can Use ESSA to Help Dual Language Learners
May 9, 2016
Conor Williams, senior researcher with New America’s Education Policy Program and founder of its Dual Language Learners National Work Group, wrote in The 74 that problems with California’s “Local Control Accountability Plans” and its attempt to help dual language learners could be mirrored in ESSA...
States to Count Former English Learners Toward the English Learner Subgroup
May 23, 2016
According to Delia Pompa, a senior fellow for education policy at the Migration Policy Institute, ESSA could allow states to count former English learners toward the English Learner subgroup for the first two years after they exit the category – which is used for accountability...
Alliance for Excellent Education Explains the Importance of N-Size
June 8, 2016
Education Week examines Alliance for Excellent Education’s concerns that the accountability regulations in ESSA “would let too many English-language learners, students in special education, minorities, and disadvantaged students slip through the cracks.” The report focuses on a provision that would allow states to pick any...
TN Announces Working Groups to Focus on Standards and Assessments
June 29, 2016
In a press release, the Dept. of Education announced it has established six working groups focusing on standards and assessment, accountability, support for English learners, educator support and effectiveness, school improvement, and student support.
State Education Leaders Visit Yakima, WA
July 11, 2016
State education leaders visited Yakima, WA this week to discuss ESSA with community members. This is the fourth meeting in a set of regional forums in the state. Superintendent Kevin Chase noted that he sees ESSA benefiting English Language Learners by putting less pressure on...
Dr. Wayne Wright of Purdue University Wants to see the Flexibility in ESSA
August 4, 2016
Writing that English learners will “by definition always fail to meet grade-level standards,” Dr. Wayne Wright of Purdue University wants to see the flexibility in ESSA used to create an accountability system to benefit these students. Dr. Wright argues that the “overall framework of NCLB...
EdWeek Highlights Key Groups That Have Weighed in on ESSA Drafts
August 24, 2016
Education Week continued highlighting “key groups that have weighed in on the draft ESSA regulations covering accountability.” This week’s summary includes: The National Association of Elementary School Principals, and National Association of Secondary School Principals are concerned that the proposed regulations may inhibit the goal...
State and Local Funding Options for English Language Learners
August 25, 2016
The Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy released a report reviewing the funding options that state and local agencies can use for English learners. Among the programs highlighted, the report included ESSA’s Title III provision that allows states flexibility when improving immigrant...
NY State Dept. of Ed Submits Comments Focused on Greater ESSA Flexibility
September 9, 2016
The New York State Education Department submitted comments on the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Academic Assessments under ESSA. The comments focused on the “need to provide states with greater flexibility in the testing of certain English language learners and students...