Teacher Leader Credits ESSA for It’s Ability to Help Undeserved Students
July 7, 2016
Anthony Hernandez, teacher leader for Educators 4 Excellence, discussed the current “supplement, not supplant” debate in an op-ed in The Hill. He argues that the provisions “have the potential to be deeply transformative for traditionally underserved students”, but ESSA’s requirement that districts explain how funds are distributed across schools are seen by some as the Dept. of Education overstepping its authority. Hernandez points out The Education Trust’s 2015 Funding Gaps Report, which found underserved students are still receiving less Title I funding than their more affluent peers. He argues that “guiderails” are needed from the department to continue the legacy of Title I’s civil rights origins.