AASA Advocacy Briefing AASA Advocacy Conference Arlington, VA July 9, 2013

Message RE: Student Success Act, HR 5 House Version of ESEA Ask Representatives to Support the Student Success Act, HR 5, House Committee reported bill – Balances need for focus on improvement for low income students and transparency with state control of standards, assessments and accountability – Provides greater state autonomy and local flexibility Oppose any voucher amendment Oppose amendments eliminating accountability for charter schools

Messages RE: Senate Reauthorization of ESEA Ask Senators to Support Alexander bill Every Child Ready for College or Career Act a better option: – Lost in Committee on a party line vote – Will be offered on the floor as a substitute – leaves critical decisions in state hands Balances concern for transparency and accountability with the need for state autonomy and local flexibility Ask Senators to Oppose S Strengthening America’s Schools Act, SASA, – More complicated and top down than NCLB – Accountability system built to over estimate failure and reduce public support – Gives Secretary of Education authority over all critical state decisions

Messages RE: Senate ESEA Action A third option may be possible The Harkin/Enzi/Alexander bill from 112 th Congress if reintroduced and brought to the floor ask Senators to support This is a long shot third option. The Harkin/Enzi/Alexander bill did have: – Broad support from all education groups including AASA, NSBA, NEA, AFT and CCSSO – Balanced concerns about improvement with autonomy for states over standards and assessments

AASA Positions: OPPOSE Harkin Bill AASA PositionHarkin Bill Support for state-developed standards, which may include Common Core No. Requires Joining Other States Opposition to federally established national standards YES Separate accountability and instructional measures NO Clear and accurate accountability measures NO

AASA Positions: OPPOSE Harkin Bill AASA PositionHarkin Bill Less intrusive and costly testing for accountability NO Tests for accountability need permit; Shift to sample method NO Measure student growthYES, Secretarial approval required Multiple sources of assessment and information NOT CLEAR, BUT USES NCLB LANGUAGE SO PROBABLY NOT

AASA Positions: OPPOSE Harkin Bill AASA PositionHarkin Bill Individualized Education Plans should shape assessment for students with disabilities NO Eliminate capsNO Assess ELL students in a language they understand. Support metric that reflects total ELL subgroup PARTIAL- 2 years rather than 1 year Emphasize rewards not punishment – build capacity. NO

AASA Positions: OPPOSE Harkin Bill AASA PositionHarkin Bill Disaggregate student outcomes - adjust for new student categories YES Eliminate mandatory set-asides, especially for SES & choice YES Calculate graduation rates that recognize multiple pathways to graduation (including high school diplomas and GEDs) NO Calculate graduation rates at the 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year timeframes, without penalty YES, w/o 6 year rate

AASA Positions: OPPOSE Harkin Bill AASA PositionHarkin Bill Focus state interventions on building capacity. YES Special consideration for alternative schools. NO Support a broad range of turn- around models. NO

AASA Positions: OPPOSE Harkin Bill AASA PositionHarkin Bill Evaluations must be focused on improving instruction and building teacher capacity, rather than teacher ranking. YES Accountability for effectiveness is a state and local responsibility. YES Compensation decisions are a state and local matter.YES Provide additional ESEA funds for hard-to-staff schools. NO Student performance should be part of evaluations but should include multiple measures of performance not a single test. YES

AASA Positions: OPPOSE Harkin Bill AASA PositionHarkin Bill VoucherNO Voucher included Maintain current MOEYes Maintain current comparabilityNO substitutes a per pupil expenditure requirement Charter schoolsFavorable treatment compared to public schools

Example of what is wrong with S Required 28 items on report card for states and school districts Student achievement at each performance level on the State academic assessments 5 of students who do not take the state tests 3 year trend in each subject tested Comparison with the state average for each subject 3 year trend for each subject by grade level # & % of students taking the alternate assessment # & % of ELLs and their language proficiency Rates and % of pregnant and parenting in mainstream schools Rates and % of P and P in alternative schools # and % of P and P achieving proficiency by grade and subject Graduation rates for P and P Incidence of bullying, violence, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, in school suspensions, out of school suspensions, expulsions, referrals to law enforcement, disciplinary transfers, and student detentions for each disaggregated category

Example of what is wrong with s Required 28 items on report card for states and school districts High school graduation rate for each high school # of students enrolling in IHEs % taking remedial coursed in IHEs The evaluation results for teachers and principals (4 place scale) Discipline data, expulsions and suspensions Rate of students getting college credit for HS courses # of pregnant and parenting students in secondary schools # of students in foster care Average class size by grade Schools categorization under accountability system Most recent NAEP results disaggregated # of districts using PBIS # of students served in early intervening Who was put in SPED after early intervening # of districts that have school mental health programs Comparison of athletic opportunities, facilities, coaches and uniforms for boys and girls # of students

AASA Position: SUPPORT Alexander Bill AASA PositionAlexander Bill Support for state-developed standards, which may include Common Core YES Opposition to federally established national standards YES Separate accountability and instructional measures State Decision Clear and accurate accountability measures State Decision

AASA Position: SUPPORT Alexander Bill AASA POSITION Alexander bill Less intrusive and costly testing for accountability State Decision Tests for accountability need permit Shift to sample method NO Measure student growthState Decision Multiple sources of assessment and information State decision

AASA Position: SUPPORT Alexander Bill AASA PositionAlexander Bill Individualized Education Plans should shape assessment for students with disabilities YES Eliminate capsYES Assess ELL students in a language they understand. Support metric that reflects total ELL subgroup Partial – 2 years rather than 1 yard Emphasize rewards not punishment – build capacity. State Decision

AASA Position: SUPPORT Alexander Bill AASA PositionAlexander Bill Disaggregate student outcomes - adjust for new student categories YES Eliminate mandatory set-asides, especially for SES & choice YES Calculate graduation rates that recognize multiple pathways to graduation State Decision Calculate graduation rates at the 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year timeframes, without penalty STATE DECISION, EXCEPT NO 6 TH YEAR

AASA Position: Support Alexander Bill AASA PositionAlexander Bill Focus state interventions on building capacity. YES Special consideration for alternative schools State Decision Plan and implement state intervention in conjunction with school districts YES Support a broad range of turn-around models. State Decision

AASA Position: Support Alexander Bill AASA PositionAlexander Bill Evaluations must be focused on improving instruction and building teacher capacity, rather than teacher ranking. YES Accountability for effectiveness is a state and local responsibility. YES Compensation decisions are a state and local matter. YES Provide additional ESEA funds for hard-to- staff schools. State Decision Student performance should be part of evaluations but should include multiple measures of performance not a single test State Decision

AASA Position: Support Alexander Bill AASA PositionAlexander Bill VoucherNO, but expect an amendment express opposition if the amendment passes Maintain current MOEEliminated Maintain Current ComparabilityYES Charter SchoolsFavorable treatment compared to public schools

AASA Position: Support Kline Bill AASA PositionsKline Bill Support for state-developed standards, which may include Common Core YES Opposition to federally established national standards YES Separate accountability and instructional measures State Decision Clear and accurate accountability measures State Decision

AASA Position: Support Kline Bill AASA PositionsKline Bill Less intrusive and costly testing for accountability State Decision Tests for accountability need permit Shift to sample method NO Measure student growth State Decision Multiple sources of assessment and information State Decision

AASA Position: Support Kline Bill AASA PositionsKline Bill Individualized Education Plans should shape assessment for students with disabilities YES Eliminate capsYES Assess ELL students in a language they understand. Support metric that reflects total ELL subgroup Partial – 2 years rather than 1 Emphasize rewards not punishment build capacity. State Decision

Disaggregate student outcomes - adjust for new student categories YES Eliminate mandatory set-asides, especially for SES & choice YES Calculate graduation rates that recognize multiple pathways to graduation (including high school diplomas and GEDs State Decision Calculate graduation rates at the 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year timeframes, without penalty State Decision, but without the 6 th year

AASA Position: Support Kline Bill AASA PositionsKline Bill Focus state interventions on building capacity. YES Special consideration for alternative schools. State Decision Plan and implement state intervention in conjunction with school districts YES Support a broad range of turn-around models. State Decision

AASA Position: Support Kline Bill AASA PositionsKline Bill Evaluations must be focused on improving instruction and building teacher capacity, rather than teacher ranking. YES Accountability for effectiveness is a state and local responsibility. YES Compensation decisions are a state and local matter. YES Provide additional ESEA funds for hard-to- staff schools. NO Student performance should be part of evaluations but should include multiple measures of performance not a single test YES

AASA Position: Support Kline Bill AASA PositionsKline Bill VoucherNO, But expect an amendment Maintain Current MOEMOE eliminated Maintain Current ComparabilityYES Charter SchoolsFavorable treatment compared to public schools

SUPPORT HR 5 Student Success Act Support for HR 5 Oppose a voucher amendment Keep maintenance of effort provisions Treat charter schools and public schools equitably Support ACE act to allocate Title I based on the percentage of poverty

FY14 Appropriations Senate and House budgets have drastically different philosophical foundations. Appropriations bills are on completely different trajectories We are on track for another CR. President Obama’s FY14 budget includes $1.2 billion in new funding for K12. ALL of it competitive. Sequester! It happened, it isn’t resolved.

FY14 Appropriations We’re on track for another CR. President Obama’s Budget includes $1.2 billion in new funding for K12….ALL of it competitive. House and Senate budgets have

Sources: CEF Calculations based on An Update to the Economic and Budget Outlook: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2023, CBO, February 2013; OMB Report Pursuant To The Sequestration Transparency Act Of 2012, September 2012; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, January 2013; House Budget Committee’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Resolution Discretionary Spending table and Senate Budget Committee’s FY 2014 Budget Resolution Discretionary Spending Summary

Function 500 Funding 32 Ryan 10-year total = $906 billion; Murray 10-year total = $1,130 billion

US Map: Federal Revenue in Local Edu Budgets

E-Rate! Dan was nominated to USAC Board, overseeing E-Rate. Anticipate NPRM calling for significant increase in E-Rate funding and programmatic changes. NOT under Congressional authority, but do make sure your delegation knows what E-Rate is, why it is important to schools, and why the new dollars are critical

Locale Codes Sliding Scale SRSA or RLIS 40% FRLP instead of 20% CP HOUSE SENATE

Other important bills: Perkins CTE Maintain the current Basic State Grant funding formula for the distribution of funds to states and local school districts Oppose any changes to Perkins that would mandate set-asides to be used for competitive grants. Supports a requirement that every local education agency, or consortia of districts that share career and technical education programs, form a higher education and economic development council to advise them on their CTE programs Supports the creation of a new funding stream that would ensure districts can offer career-planning and counseling to all students Congress should assess the quality of a CTE program based on the following two measures: the percentage of students achieving a technical skill attainment level or certification and the percentage of students enrolled in the CTE program who graduate from high school college-and-career-ready

Other important bills: IDEA Funding is always priority #1, but other problems remain…. IDEA Due Process AASA released a proposal in May that recommends radical changes to IDEA Due Process No complaint is filed; refusal to sign IEP automatically leads to facilitation Mediation: no legally binding document, parties only sign IEP NO lawyers No resolution session No hearing- new consultancy model

Top Five Take Aways While this presentation represents an overview of AASA’s legislative priorities, as you prepare for the hill tomorrow, here are the five bullets to remember: – Support for Kline’s Student Success Act (HR 5) – Oppose a voucher amendment – Keep maintenance of effort provisions – Treat charter schools and public schools equitably – Support ACE act to allocate Title I based on the percentage of poverty

Questions? Bruce Hunter Noelle Ellerson Sasha Pudelski Francesca Duffy AASA’s Advocacy Team will be on the hill with you tomorrow.