A controversial bill in Iowa is sparking intense debate on the issue of school vouchers and funding for private education, as it would allow students who attend 34 schools rated as “low performing” under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act to use “Student First Scholarships”...
A school report card released by the Iowa Department of Education shows schools statewide are improving compared to last year. The online tool was designed to meet the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act and also includes “components of a state report card that...
According to KWWL News, Iowa recently “rolled out new updates” to its online school data and reporting system, which provides “the public with more information regarding how schools rank in comparison across the state.” The Iowa School Performance Profiles “provide information on a school’s overall...
Mackenzie Ryan reports that CheckStatePlans.org peer reviewers drew “attention to the lack of new, statewide reading and math exams in Iowa classrooms” at the same time that a vendor is “appealing the state’s selection of American Institutes for Research as Iowa’s new testing contractor.”
In its ESSA plan, Iowa “suggests issuing school climate surveys for students in grades 3-12.” These surveys “would fulfill a requirement for a school quality or student success indicator in the state’s accountability system, allowing students to rank their feelings on prompts like ‘My school...
Approved State Plans Alabama: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Alaska: Final Plan Approved (5/16/18) Arizona: Final Plan Approved (9/6/17) Arkansas: Final Plan Approved (1/16/18) Colorado: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Connecticut: Final Plan Approved (8/15/17) Delaware: Final Plan Approved (8/2/17) District of Columbia: Final Plan Approved (8/28/17) Georgia:...
Under Iowa’s state ESSA plan, minority and low-income students “will have different—sometimes lower—goals than their white, affluent peers under.” These “higher growth targets are an effort to decease the state’s proficiency gap and gradually bringing low-income and minority students up to the same level as their peers.”
The third draft of Iowa’s ESSA plan is available for public review and comment via an online feedback survey from the Iowa Department of Education.
Last week, Iowa Dept. of Education Director Ryan Wise announced that the third draft of Iowa’s ESSA plan is available for public review and comment.
Iowa education leaders are creating a new accountability plan under ESSA, and are debating a formula that identifies the lowest-performing schools for additional support.
