1. ESSA Every Student Succeeds Act
Dr. Valerie C. D’Aguanno & Kerrie Johnson
Nassau BOCES/ RIC

2. Before ESSA…
2001

3. RTTT
2009

4. Dr. King became our Commissioner…
RTTT ended and Dr. King left NY…

5. He reappeared in Washington, DC and soon become the replacement for Arnie Duncan

6. 2015

7. ESSA vs NCLB in brief…

8. Accountability: Then and Now
Issue
NCLB
ESSA (w/ Proposed Regulations)
Expectations for Students
Unrealistic goals & targets created incentives for States to lower standards for students well below levels needed to succeed after high school.
States must set expectations for all students that will put them on a path to succeed in college or career, with flexibility to design accountability systems that best support this goal.
Goals & Timelines
States were held to a federally prescribed timeline for all students to achieve proficiency in reading and math.
States set their own ambitious goals and short-term measures of progress that hold high expectations for all students and reflect the progress necessary to close achievement gaps.

9. Accountability: Then and Now
Issue
NCLB
ESSA (w/ Proposed Regulations)
Measures of School Quality
School performance was defined and measured narrowly, with a heavy focus on math and reading test scores and high school graduation rates.
Increased state flexibility to take a more holistic view of school performance based on multiple measures including: achievement in reading and math; academic progress in elementary and middle schools; graduation rates in high schools; rates of progress for ELLs achieving language proficiency; and a state-determined indicator of school quality or student success.

10. Accountability: Then and Now
Issue
NCLB
ESSA (w/ Proposed Regulations)
Transparency around Performance
Schools that did not meet benchmarks were given a “pass/fail” mark and a label (e.g. corrective action) associated with the types of improvement efforts that had to be undertaken in the school – information that was not meaningful or particularly useful to parents and the public.
States create a multi-level rating system that clearly communicates to parents and communities how their schools are doing, taking into account all of the measure of school performance.
Information displayed in a timely manner on annual report cards designed with input from parents.

11. Accountability: Then and Now
Issue
NCLB
ESSA (w/ Proposed Regulations)
Interventions
Federally-prescribed interventions for schools and districts identified as “failing.”
Locally-tailored, evidenced-based interventions for schools identified for support.
Improvement plans designed in collaboration with teachers, principals, parents, and other stakeholders.

12. Accountability: Then and Now
Issue
NCLB
ESSA (w/ Proposed Regulations)
Resources
Source:
Districts were directed to set-aside substantial amounts of funding for specific federally prescribed interventions which were not consistently effective.
Districts no longer forced to set aside funds.
State funds are prioritized to a state’s lowest-performing five percent of schools, high schools with low graduation rates, and schools with persistently low performance among subgroup of students.
Flexibility to use funds for locally-tailored, evidenced-based strategies.

13. ESSA Accountability Measurement & Methodology (Kerrie)
NYSED – Created Six Work Groups
Accountability Measurement & Methodology (Kerrie)
Challenging Academic Standards & Academic Assessment (Valerie)
Supporting Excellent Educators
Supporting English Learners (EL)
Support & Improvement for Schools
Supporting All Students

14. ESSA Think Tank-August
There were approximately 100 organizations represented at the meeting. Organizations included NYSUT, school libraries, the arts, Alliance for Public Education, superintendents, NYSCOSS, RSE-TASC, NYC, Big 5, DATAG, parents and school psychologist organization.
The day began with a welcome from the Commissioner. Our role on the Think Tank was clear. We are contributing to a conversation but ultimately it is the BOR that will approve the NYS application to the USDOE. Further, the governor has a role in the process and there will be public comment. The Commissioner was also clear that what we hear in the room is SED "thinking out loud" and that it would be inappropriate and incorrect to say the NYSED is "considering" "has decided" or any equivalent statement.

15. Work Ahead
An Accountability Workgroup meeting on September 23; monthly whole Think Tank meetings  through January
October Regional Invitational Meetings by JMT
November-Draft plan is presented and approved by the BOR (SED) and open for public comment. Also reference to the DSs facilitating Public Comment Meetings
January-Draft plan to the governor (SED) and back to the BOR for approval to be sent to the USDOE.

16. Dear Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Stakeholder:
The New York State Education Department (NYSED or “the Department”) is currently accepting public comments on a revised version of the draft guiding principles and characteristics of highly effective schools that prepare students for post-secondary education, careers and life. 
Public comments on the Phase II document may be submitted through Friday, September 16, 2016 at:
Please review the attached memo for more details. Thank you for your participation in this process.
Sincerely,
Office of Accountability

17. JMT Planning Time: Guiding Questions
What are the priorities for our region/city given updates from NYSED?
How can the JMTs/Big 5 work in a cooperative and collaborative manner to avoid recreating the same work?