1. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan: Update
Presentation to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
August 15, 2017

2. Purpose of presentation
Provide an update to Board on status of Massachusetts’ state plan under federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Discuss revisions requested by U.S. Department of Education
Discuss next steps
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Review of process to date
Date(s)
Activity
December 2015
ESSA signed into law
2016 & 2017
ESSA plan discussions with BESE (4 meetings in 2016, two meetings in 2017)
Stakeholder engagement
Winter 2017
Draft state plan developed
Public comment period
April 2017
Submission of state plan to U.S. Department of Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4. Status update
May/June 2017 – Peer and U.S. Department of Education staff review
July 2017 – Feedback received, revisions requested
August 2017 – Plan to submit revisions
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

5. Requested revisions
Certain aspects of accountability & assistance system plan
Additional details regarding specific ESSA programs (Migrant, Neglected & Delinquent, Homeless, Rural Schools, Student Support & Academic Enrichment Grants)
Details contained in BESE summary document
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

6. Accountability feedback
Measures in proposed accountability system
Use of average scale score
Calculation of “successful completion” of broad & challenging coursework
Grouping & weighting of measures
Science achievement
Extended engagement rate
Annual dropout rate
Criterion-referenced component of system
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

7. Accountability feedback
Accountability for all schools
Small schools
Schools with untested grades
Schools in need of support & improvement
Frequency (comprehensive support)
Methodology (targeted support)
Notification (additional targeted support)
Exit criteria (additional targeted support)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

8. Next steps Date(s) Activity August 2017
Resubmit ESSA state plan to U.S. Department of Education
Fall 2017 (anticipated)
Receive additional feedback and/or approval of plan
Late summer-Fall 2017
Model accountability metrics using first round of Next Generation MCAS results
Late Fall 2017
Discuss accountability system design with BESE
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education