Federal Education Policy Update

Alaska Superintendents AssociationSeptember 24, 2015

Rob Larson Director, Strategic Relations

Why Is Federal Education Policy Important?

To Us?– District Leaders?

ESEA NCLB Every Child Achieves Act

Student Success Act

Authorization v. Appropriations

Authorization

Every Child Achieves Act & Student Success Act of 2015

ProcessPeoplePolicyPolitics

Process

Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (ECAA)– Senate HELP Committee passes bill,

April 16, 2015…Bipartisan vote 22‒0– Symbolic vote has inspired bipartisan support– Passes US Senate 81-17 (July)

Student Success Act (SSA)– Passes US House 218-213 (July)– Close vote – 27 Rs vote with Ds

Conference Committee

9th Grade Civics ClassReconcile differencesFirst time in 15 years!In progress…

People

Senator Alexander Senator Murray

More People

Senator Murkowski

Representative Kline

PolicyExplicitly limits federal roleShifts control from feds to statesCodifies (institutionalizes) disaggregation of data by subgroupNo AYPIncludes evidence

and innovation

Federal–State Role

Secretary prohibited from specifying, defining, or prescribing:

– Measurement or inclusion of student growth

– Any aspect of teacher or principal evaluation

– Standards, measures– State goals– Weighting

Politics

Where do we go from here?

Prediction is difficult …especially about the

future.—Yogi Berra

Politics (But wait, there’s more)

ESEA (ECAA + SSA)

Federal–state roleAccountabilityStandards TestingSchool improvementEvidence and innovation

Accountability

No AYP, but state system of accountability1. Achievement towards goals by subgroups2. Maintains disaggregation of achievement3. HS graduation (4 year cohort) rate4. One statewide indicator of postsecondary readiness5. Growth measure optional6. Identify LPS - % up to states

Maintains SEA and LEA report cards, adds national report cardEliminates HQT, but requires certification or licensurePortability of Title I– Senate - NO– House - YES

Standards

SEAs not required to submit standards to USDOESEA must adopt challenging content standards (M, R/LA and science)Ensure alignment with IHE entranceState plans (with peer review) in place for 7 years

Testing

Requires– Annual academic standards in math,

science, reading/language arts– Math, R/LA 3‒8, once in 9‒12 – Senate - Science tested once in 3‒5, 6‒

9, 10‒12

School Improvement

Prohibition of prescribing specific school improvement strategies or weight of any indicator or measure that a state uses to identify schools

SEA to use state accountability system to identify school for “evidence-based” intervention or support

Authorization of ESEA

In what ways might these proposed changes impact your work as a superintendent?

On your own, then with a partner

Appropriations

Appropriations

House– Slashes ED funding and programs by

$2.8B from FY 15 $67.2B to $64.4B– Eliminates 20 programs

Senate – Slashes ED funding and programs by

$1.7B from FY15 $67.2B to $65.5B – Eliminates 10 programs

Appropriations (Funding of K-12)

Shut Down September 30th (CR) Debt Ceiling Sequestration cuts kick-in ...”raise the caps”Presidential veto of any sequestration cuts

My Responsibilities…

School Administrator

School Leader

Where is the Opportunity?

Look at the big picture

Be the leadership you need

Speak truth to power

Partner for solutions – Collaborate, Unify

The Opportunity & Hope is…

YOU!