By Scott L. Miley CNHI Statehouse ReporterKokomo,
Struggling Hoosier students can be helped with more focused classes and perhaps mentorships with teachers, but it will come at additional costs.
That assessment came Monday night at Indiana University Kokomo as 100 educators and parents met to discuss the Every Student Succeeds Act, the federal replacement for No Child Left Behind.
The Indiana Department of Education is hosting discussions that may help mold the state’s approach to ESSA, which was signed into law in December 2015.
Like its predecessor, ESSA holds states accountable for high standards, maintains state accountability systems, requires annual tests in Grades 3-8 and in high school, and sustains support for struggling schools and development of teachers. It also allows for more state input and direction.
But through ESSA, states can determine how they want to reach policy goals and have more local control in their approach, officials said.
“ESSA is similar to No Child in that you still have accountability,” said Adam Baker, Indiana Department of Education press secretary. “You still have assessments. You still have the end result, which is ensuring children are academically sound and prepared for the future.”
The state is to send its plans to the U.S. Department of Education by Sept. 18 but will have the proposal online by July.
Monday night, the group gathered at the IUK campus to discuss how to measure a school’s success, how to support all students and how to improve schools in need, among other issues.
In the latter, a group of about 12 suggested that struggling students, notably those of low socioeconomic status, could be in classes for a longer part of the day…
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