SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT FROM SIG TO ESSA

COMBINED FEDERAL PROGRAMS MEETING DECEMBER 2016

OBJECTIVES Review requirements for SIG and school improvement under

ESSA Identify solutions to several commonly stated challenges for

LEAs implementing final SIG awards Determine strategies for maximizing the use of FY15 and

FY16 SIG funding Determine ways in which the State Support Network (the

Network) can support implementation

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PARTICIPANTS WILL:

AGENDA SIG Implementation Discussion: SEA Questions and Lessons Learned from SIG Technical Assistance Support from the State Support Network Resources for School Improvement

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PRESENTERS Dr. Michael Wells – Group 3 Team Leader, Office of State

Support, U.S. Department of Education

Stephanie Washington – Education Program Specialist, Office of State Support, U.S. Department of Education

Megan Oberst – Education Program Specialist, Office of State Support, U.S. Department of Education

Kim Light - Education Program Specialist, Office of State Support, U.S. Department of Education

Danielle Ongart – Special Assistant, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education

Catherine Barbour - Director, State Support Network

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School Improvement: FY 2015 & FY 2016 SIG

Awards

FUNDING FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

School Improvement Grants

FY 2016 is the final year for new SIG funding. SIG funds must continue to operate under the SIG Final

Requirements, published in the Federal Register in February 2015 through the period of availability of those funds.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TIMELINES

Obligation of SIG funds: – FY15 funds must be obligated by Sept 30, 2017 – FY16 funds must be obligated by Sept 30, 2018

States may continue to implement SIG beyond SY 2017-2018 by:

– Requesting a waiver to extend the period of availability of SIG funds; and/or

– Using funds set aside under section 1003(a) of the ESEA, as amended by ESSA, to complete implementation in SIG schools (up to 5 years).

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

SIG REMINDERS

SEAs may make a SIG award to an LEA for a school for up to five years.

Planning: Up to 1 year – Full Implementation: 3 years

Sustainability activities: Up to 2 years A school may use funds for pre-implementation. A school may not receive more than five years of continuous

SIG funding.

FUNDING AND TIMELINES

INTERVENTIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY

The goal of additional years for sustainability is to help districts and schools transition to continuing the implementation of school turnaround reforms after SIG funding ends.

LEAs must submit a sustainability plan as part of their SIG applications to States that can include a wide range of activities.

SIG funding must be at least $50,000 per year, per school and should be proportional to the proposed activities.

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From SIG to ESSA: Lessons Learned from School Improvement Grants

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT IN ESSA

Information on school improvement under the ESEA, as amended by ESSA, can be found in sections 1003and 1111(d)

The final regulations on Accountability, State Plans, and Data Reporting address school improvement from §§ 200.21 – 200.24

States must direct 95% of funds set aside for school improvement (i.e. funds under section1003) to districts with schools in need of the most support:

– Schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement – Schools identified for targeted support and improvement

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SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TIMELINES

Comprehensive support and improvement: – Comprehensive support and improvement schools will be

identified once every three years beginning in SY 2018-2019, except that:

– States can choose the first year of identification for the chronically low-performing subgroup

Targeted support and improvement: – Schools with consistently under-performing subgroups will be

identified annually beginning in SY 2019-2020

– Schools with low-performing subgroups will be identified at least once every three years beginning in SY 2018-2019

ESSA

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DISCUSSION

As States prepare for their final years of SIG implementation, States have identified a few challenges including: Low number of high-quality applications that applied for SIG

funds. Guidance on how States can spend “surplus” SIG funds.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT CHALLENGES & QUESTIONS

HOW TO MAXIMIZE SIG?

Scenario: States are concerned with the capacity of LEAs to implement SIG with high quality due to commonly observed challenges (i.e. high turnover of key staff).

What strategies could States use to support grantees to

ensure quality implementation of SIG? What are some examples of how your State is providing

support to LEAs that have capacity concerns?

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION AND REPORT OUT

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INTERVENTION PLANNING:

How do SEAs use evidence successfully to implement interventions that result in improved outcomes for students?

What actions will SEAs take to identify local needs, focusing on use of evidence?

What does it mean for districts to use evidence to select and evaluate interventions under ESSA?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

TRANSITION TO ESSA

How will you use this transition to revise your school improvement planning tools and processes to incorporate lessons learned from SIG?

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Support for School Improvement

An Introduction to the State Support Network Catherine Barbour State Support Network Director Aaron Butler

Acting Deputy Director

We are… a technical assistance initiative designed to support State & district school improvement efforts

We collaborate with states, districts & technical assistance providers to:

We help States & districts…

Take stock of lessons learned from prior systemic school improvement efforts Assess districts’ and schools’ needs and assets to inform improvement strategies Build sustainable systems to support continuous improvement and ensure student success

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Questions?

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS

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Office of State Support: OSS.[State]@ED.gov

OSS Technical Assistance/State Support Network http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oss/technicalassistance

ESSA Questions Essa.Questions@ed.gov

SIG Webpage http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/index.html

ESSA Regulations & Guidance: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/index.html