Inside the Beltway
What’s going on in Washington?
Yesterday was the due date for comments to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the proposed regulations for Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
NASSP coordinated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and 58 of our state affiliates to submit joint comments on behalf of the nation’s preK–12 elementary, middle level, and high school principals. Our comments focused specifically on the accountability indicators, consolidated planning, and support for effective educators, in addition to other issues.
Why should principals care?
The draft Title I regulations set parameters for states in developing their new accountability systems, which replace the No Child Left Behind era of “adequate yearly progress” and will be fully implemented during the 2017–18 school year. In our comments, we express opposition to the proposal that states require a summative rating for all schools, and encourage the Department to provide guidance to states on how to factor student growth into the accountability system. We also urge for a flexible implementation timeline that will allow states to consult with principals and other education stakeholders in the development of their state plans. It seems unlikely that Congress will consider another reauthorization of the law in the next decade, so we must be sure that we put in place accountability systems that will truly help schools succeed.
In the Press
LGBTQ Students Feel Safer at Schools with Gay Straight Alliances, Vanderbilt University
A recent study from Vanderbilt University found that in high schools with gay-straight alliances, LGBTQ students report fewer incidents of bullying, and have a greater sense of personal safety compared to students in high schools that do not have such clubs.
Educating Students in Rural America: Capitalizing on Strengths, Overcoming Barriers, NASBE
The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has released a report on four areas of state policy to support rural schools. They include technology access and training, partnerships and collaborations, flexible funding, and capacity building.
Understanding ESSA, Collaborative for Student Success
The Collaborative for Student Success has launched a new website that compiles relevant news from state and federal sources in order to serve as a one-stop shop for any interested party seeking guidance and clarity on how states are working to implement ESSA with fidelity.