ESEA, Hot Issues and the Federal Education Outlook Prepared for NAFEPA, March 2015 Presented by David DeSchryver, Director, Whiteboard Advisors
Table of Contents Educa tion Ins iders ..... 3 ESEA Outlook ..... 6 ESEA Hot Is s ues ..... 8 Wha t's Next ..... 22
ESEA Outlook
ESEA Reauthorization Education Insiders Education Insider is a monthly report that cuts through the noise and provides real-time insights on national education policy trends, debates, and issues ? from the handful of decision makers that are really driving the process. We combine a survey of key education influencers with our own analysis to provide a unique perspective on the current state of debate. Who Are The Insiders? Influential leaders who are shaping federal education reform, including individuals who have or are currently serving as key policy and political ? insiders,? such as: - Current and former White House and U.S. Department of Education leaders; - Current and former Congressional staff; - State education leaders including state school chiefs and former governors; and - Leaders of major education organizations, think tanks and other key influentials 4
ESEA Reauthorization Education Insiders Some Insider quotes: "Lucy dressed up as HR5 and was all, "I'll hold the ball this time! Promise!" And we were all, "It's going to happen! ESEA is going to get reauthorized this time!" And then she ripped off the costume and laughed and laughed. And then Peppermint Patty and Linus who were sitting in the stands ripped off their costumes and they were actually Club for Growth and Heritage Action, and they just laughed and laughed. ESEA will never, ever, ever get reauthorized. Believe that. Ever. " "If it passes, it'll be signed quickly. And all sides want this done before we get too deep into the presidential primaries. Do we really want ESEA re authorization to be an issue in the Iowa caucuses? " 5
ESEA Reauthorization Issue: Veto Bait We have more work to do so every child has access to a great public education, but Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are advancing legislation (H.R. 5) that would cement recent education cuts, allow states and local communities to waste their education investments on unrelated projects, and take funding from the schools that need it most and giving it to some of the nation? s wealthiest districts. This approach is backwards and our teachers and kids deserve better. 6
ESEA Reauthorization: Timeline Sens. Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray say that they are aiming for a markup of their ESEA bill the week of Sen, Lamar Alexander April 13. introduced ESEA "Discussion Draft," Jan. 13, 2015 Presidential election season underway... Winter Spring Summer Fall Budget Season Rep. Kline introduced the Student Rep. Kline pulls SSA Success Act (HR5) and passes it from House floor due to out of education committee along conservative rebellion, party lines, Feb. 3, 2015. Feb. 3, 2015. 7
ESEA Hot Is s ues
ESEA Hot Issues The Need for Issue: Funding Levels Evidence The Obama Administration is asking for a $1 billion increase for FY 2016. The Houses bill HR5 authorizes $16,245,163,000 ? for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021.? The Senate draft authorizes $15 billion through 2021. These levels do not account for inflation and growing numbers of children of poverty in our schools. Background Congress is weary in investing in education without better evidence of efficacy. Title I provides supplemental education funding to LEAs to fund schools with high concentrations of poverty. The schools use the funds to serve students at-risk of not making the state academic How this efficacy is presented is not clear. achievement standards or, in the case of schoolwide programs, to help all students in high poverty schools meet challenging It is clear, however, that the burden of State academic standards. demonstrating the solutions will fall on the Title I operates through one of two models: a ? targeted shoulders of today's superintendents and assistance? model or a ? schoolwide? model. The schoolwide program leaders. model allows schools to use Title I funds in combination with other Federal, State, and local funds to improve the overall instructional program for all children in a school. 9
ESEA Hot Issues Issue: Portability Uncertainty Senate: The State would provide funding to LEAs based on an amount equal to the sum of the amount available for each eligible child in the State multiplied by the number of eligible children identified by the local educational agency. LEAs, then, would If at-risk children leave poor preforming schools for distribute funds to the public schools based on the number of eligible children enrolled in the schools. better schools, that likely means leaving a poorer school for a wealthier one and taking Title I funding House: Similarly, HR5 allow SEAs to allocate Title I funds based along. This also this undermines budget predictability on the number of eligible children enrolled in the public schools for districts that rely on the funds for district services served by each LEA. and for personnel expenses. Background Under current law, the LEAs receive funds based on a 4 part formula that places heavy weight on the number of low income students in the LEA. LEAs identify eligible school based on concentrations of poverty in school attendance areas and distribute the funds based on the concentration of poverty in those schools, until the money runs out. The planning and management of the funding is largely a district based activity and they can rely on the funding levels for budget and planning. 10
ESEA Hot Issues Standards In the News Senate: requires States to provide assurances that they have adopted challenging academic standards in reading/ELA, math, and science. House: requires states to adopt standards in ELA/reading, math, and science. May adopt standards in other subjects. Both versions prohibit the secretary from prescribing standards or telling states what to do, generally. Background The Common Core standards have become a political litmus test or conservative politicisions. Only Jeb Bush is bucking the trend. Will he be able to survive the primaries with this position? 11
ESEA Hot Issues Accountability Senate: Each state shall describe a single statewide accountability system that annually measures achievement in math and reading (which may include growth) and that annually identifies and differentiates all public schools based on subgroup gaps and achievement, overall performance, & grad rates (at 35). The Sec. is prohibited from est. criterion on these matters. ? ? (4) PROHIBITION ON REGULATION. ? Nothing in this If a state changes its standards, tests, or accountability systems it subsection shall be construed to permit the Secretary to just "notifies" the Secretary. establish any criterion that specifies, defines, or prescribes the standards or measures that State or local House: Requires single statewide plan to annually measure educational agencies use to establish,implement, or school and student performance, but states do not need to improve? establish performance targets. Accountability for charter schools is in accord with state law (at 39.) (A) State standards; Background (B) assessments; Under NCLB, schools and districts had to make adequate (C) State accountability systems; yearly progress (AYP). Under the waivers, States have school performance targets. (D) systems that measure student academic growth; They can design their own, cut the number of non-proficient students in half by 2017, or reach 100% proficiency by 2020. (E) measures of other academic indicators; The notion that state's have an accountability plan carries into (F) teacher, principal, or other school leader evaluation the reauthorizing debates, yet the details are left to the states systems; or to figure out. 12
ESEA Hot Issues Deemed Approved! Senate: House: SEC. 9451. APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF DEEMED APPROVAL.? An application submitted STATE PLANS. by a State educational agency under subsection (a) shall be deemed to be approved by the Secretary (a) DEEMED APPROVAL. ? A plan submitted by a unless the Secretary makes a written State pursuant to section 2101(d), 4103(d), or 9302 determination, prior to the expiration of the 120-day shall be deemed to be approved by the Secretary period beginning on the date on which the unless? Secretary received the application, that the application is not in compliance with this subpart. 13
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