April 2015 Education
www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com
The Hampton Roads Messenger 11
U.S. Dept. of Education Renews ESEA Flexibility for Virginia through Expedited Decision Process All other states that want to either
continue flexibility or apply for the first time must have already submitted an application. The Department will work to make decisions on those submissions through late spring and summer.
In the event that Congress
reauthorizes ESEA, the Department will work with states to help them transition
to the new law. Duncan
has called on Congress to create a bipartisan ESEA law that:
• Gives teachers and principals the resources they need, and invests in
The U.S. Department and Virginia of
Education announced that Kentucky, Minnesota, Carolina received
each a four-year renewal for
flexibility from provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
This year, Congress is working on an overhaul of ESEA, which has been due for reauthorization since 2007. But until a new law is in place, the law continues to stand. This means states need a new round of waivers that provide flexibility from top-down, prescriptive provisions of the law so that they can continue implementing innovative changes that ensure all
children education. receive a high-quality These four-year renewals
provide states with stability as they continue
to work on preparing all students for success in college, careers and life.
“While a strong, bipartisan re-
authorization of the law remains our top priority, we want to continue to empower state and district leaders to develop plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close
equity
achievement and
of instruction,” improve
gaps, increase the
U.S. Secretary
quality of
Education Arne Duncan said. “We will continue to partner with states to support them through the ESEA flexibility process - starting with these five states.”
ESEA flexibility has led to a
greater focus on ensuring that schools have the same expectation of college- and career-readiness for every student.
States are focusing resources on
comprehensive, rigorous interventions in the lowest-performing schools,
New Mexico, North have
while ensuring that all low-achieving students have the supports they need to catch up to their peers. ESEA flexibility has had the effect of energizing teacher and principal
effectiveness work
across the country and put the focus on creating feedback systems that show the impact teachers and principals are having on student learning and shine a light on best practices to support teachers’ development.
Under NCLB, schools were given many ways to fail but very few opportunities
to succeed. The law
forced schools and districts into one- size-fits-all solutions, regardless of the individual needs and circumstances in those communities.
The five states approved for
flexibility are on track to fully meet their commitments under the flexibility program. They were invited to participate in an expedited review process, developed with input from states, which included submitting their
renewal requests in January
and meeting with senior staff at the Department in person. They will have flexibility through the 2018-19 school year.
Since being approved for
ESEA flexibility, these states have implemented bold education reforms leading to fewer low-performing schools; a narrowing graduation gap among minority and white students; and increased focus on professional development for teachers, principals and superintendents.
• Virginia provided professional development
extensive to
teachers on the revised college- and career-ready standards of learning, and provided targeted staff training on narrowing and closing achievement gaps. Nearly
You are cordially invited to attend...
City Council meetings... Norfolk - regular meetings are held on the first and fourth Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and the second and third Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
Chesapeake - regular meetings are held on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Newport News - regular business meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Suffolk - regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Hampton - typically take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.
Virginia Beach - meets on the first four Tuesdays of each month. In July the meetings are scheduled on the first two Tuesdays only. Formal session begins at 6 p.m. Portsmouth - meeting dates are the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
innovative
every subgroup is meeting or exceeding targets for both math and English language arts.
• Districts and schools are now accountable
language
student subgroups — including English
and
for ensuring all learners
students with disabilities — meet the federal graduation benchmarks. The focus on subgroups has led to increased support for students in subgroups with lower graduation rates.
“The waiver
interventions receiving
has
funds and other that
result sooner rather allowed
resources in
personalized than
divisions and schools to focus Title I
our on
students support
later,” Virginia
Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said.
increase student outcomes; • Makes real investments in
high-poverty schools and districts, and in expanding preschool;
high-quality
• Holds high expectations for all students, and requires that where groups of students or schools are not making progress, there will be an action plan for change;
•
Identifies schools that are consistently not making progress and dedicates extra resources and support, including in the lowest- performing 5 percent of schools that are struggling year after year;
• Addresses funding inequities for schools that serve high proportions of low-income students.
districts and states to create new solutions
to
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16