This article discusses whether state lawmakers are ready for implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The article raises concerns that state education agencies do not have adequate staffing or funding to address the responsibilities of crafting and managing state accountability plans. In addition, it asserts that states are already tackling many other new issues such as increased data collection and privacy considerations, as well as new leadership in some places. The author notes that while much attention has been given to building better accountability systems, not enough attention has been focused on increasing states’ capacity to help students achieve better academic outcomes. Lastly, the article discusses how different states are meeting these challenges.
This article will be of interest to state policy makers as well as others in the field of education reform who are watching how states roll out ESSA accountability systems.
Source Organization: Education Week