ESSA and Empowering Educator Voices on Policy
August 12, 2019
Over at Educators for High Standards, South Carolina 2nd grade teacher Stephanie M. Johnson explains how ESSA is empowering the educator voice in policymaking. This was a great start, she says, as ESSA “encouraged states and district to move toward a model of shared decision making, which strengthens the role of teachers and makes them better leaders in their own classrooms and schools.” But there is still more work to be done. “Decision-makers must continue building relationships with teachers to use their expertise and experience to inform the development of policies and understand how implementation will affect students and teachers.”