Why an Independent Peer Review of State ESSA Plans is Important
June 29, 2017
Collaborative for Student Success Executive Director Jim Cowen authored an opinion piece in The Hill about the importance of the independent peer review of state submitted ESSA plans. According to Cowen, “ESSA altered American public education by devolving authority from the federal government to the states… That shift created an opportunity — and a need —for an independent method of evaluating state accountability plans above and beyond mere compliance and for sharing what works best.” The Collaborative for Student Success partnered with Bellwether Education Partners and more than 30 independent, nationally-recognized education experts to release Check State Plans. Cowen explained, “We hope this wide-ranging objective analysis will provide state policymakers, educators and advocates with authoritative, non-governmental guidance from concerned and respected education experts.”