蜜桃影视

This update on the Every Student Succeeds Act and the education plans now being implemented by states and school districts is produced in partnership with ESSA Essentials, an ongoing series from the Collaborative for Student Success. It鈥檚 an offshoot of their newsletter, which you can ! (See our recent ESSA updates from previous weeks right here.)

鈥凄ata鈥� doesn鈥檛 need to be a dirty word.

In a recent piece in Education Week, Columbia University political science and education professor Jeffrey Henig urges the administration of President Joe Biden to commit earnestly to Henig adds: 鈥淎 reimagined system of data could encourage a bottom-up use of information nationwide鈥� and reverse the skepticism of data in education that has been cultivated in the U.S. since the inception of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.

Henig describes some ways the administration might encourage states and districts to bolster their data collection efforts, noting that a 鈥渨ide array of measures鈥� could establish a shared focus and narrative for educators and advocates as they work to improve schools and increase student outcomes. .

Beyond issues of data and school improvement, here are five of the week鈥檚 top developments for how states are implementing (and innovating under) ESSA:

Using Career and Technical Education as a Tool for Equity

Though all students have lost ground due to school closures amid the pandemic, Dallas Deputy Superintendent Susana Cordova says 鈥渢here are bright spots illuminating a path to success for our high school students: .鈥�

Cordova, citing experience rolling out innovative CTE initiatives in Colorado and Texas, says learning can carry new purpose and relevance when students are actively engaged in the 鈥渞easons for learning鈥� and have accessible opportunities to carry what they learn into a trade, certification, or post-high school opportunity. This opportunity to rethink school programs that engage, motivate, and lead students to success, Cordova says, could serve as a means to increase racial equity at a time when Black and Latino students are widely experiencing the harshest of impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and related school closures.

Schools Find Proactive Ways to Remain IDEA Compliant During Pandemic

For many schools, ensuring that students who receive special education resources were able to continue receiving services during the pandemic proved to be one of the most difficult challenges resulting from school closures 鈥� one that has carried an uptick in 鈥渄ue process鈥� litigation cases being brought by parents against their students鈥� schools for failing to meet services established in legally-backed Individual Education Plans, or IEPS.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools must provide a 鈥渇ree, appropriate public education鈥� that meets the individualized needs of eligible students, something that has been difficult in the age of virtual learning and social distancing. However, reporter Kara Arundel , including by opening in-person only for students with the most intensive needs, launching teletherapy services, and purchasing and delivering new assistive technology to students鈥� homes.

Indiana Lawmakers Consider Accountability Overhaul

Continuing the national conversation around the role of state school accountability systems during the pandemic, by reconsidering state 鈥渢akeovers鈥� of the lowest performing schools, re-weighting A-F school grades, and developing a new school performance dashboard for parents and community members.

The discussion in Indiana comes as as they work out the details of administering spring state assessments this school year, the results on which most accountability measures at least partially rely. Under the new bill, changes to Indiana鈥檚 accountability structure would still hinge on results from annual student assessments.

Iowa School Voucher Bill Reignites Private School Funding Debate

A controversial bill in Iowa is , as it would allow students who attend 34 schools rated as 鈥渓ow performing鈥� under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act to use 鈥淪tudent First Scholarships鈥� to instead enroll in private or charter schools.

A say the scholarships would siphon money away from the very public schools needing investments and resources to improve, while Republican members supportive of the measure say the scholarships would increase parental choice and options. The bill has already passed in the state Senate and is being considered in the House with the support of Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Did you use this article in your work?

We鈥檇 love to hear how 蜜桃影视鈥檚 reporting is helping educators, researchers, and policymakers.