The District of Columbia and Illinois received feedback from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on their plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act earlier this week.
The feds’ response to those two states represent the first time the U.S. Department of Education has provided feedback since it announced changes to the ESSA review process. The new process includes a phone call department officials will hold with states before finalizing formal feedback letters to states. This change has raised concerns about the transparency of ESSA review.
A department spokesman confirmed that this new process was used for D.C. and Illinois.Here are some highlights from the department’s new ESSA feedback…
Want to know how high U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her team will set the bar in approving Every Student Succeeds Act plans? How DeVos handles her home state may provide the answer.
That last move angered Brian Whiston, Michigan’s state chief, who said the feds were sending mixed messages when it comes to ESSA. DeVos, he said, stressed local control, and told state chiefs in a closed door meeting to hand in their plans even if they weren’t totally complete. But Botel, the acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, seemed to be working from a different playbook, Whiston said last month…
As summer comes to an end and back-to-school season begins, it can be hard to get back into a regular schedule — both for kids and adults. To make the best of the summer-to-school transition, the Defender has compiled some tips on how parents can avoid being overwhelmed in the coming weeks.
Get in ‘school mode.’ Kids have gotten used to later bedtimes and sleeping in. The adjustment to a school schedule can be difficult. To adjust to the change, set your kids’ sleep schedules back to “School Time” two weeks before the first day. The National Sleep Foundation recommends children 6-13 years old sleep between 9 to 11 hours and teenagers, between 14 to 17 years old, should get about 8 to 10 hours. If you start adjusting their schedule now, by the time the first school bell rings, kids will already be on the right sleeping schedule and it will be one less worry for your family.
Shift the mindset. Visit cultural attractions like museums to shift their brains into “Scholar” mode. Encourage your kids to read at least one book before the school year begins. But while it is important to support learning throughout the summer, don’t spend the last weeks of summer vacation reviewing last year’s curriculum. All kids need some down time before the rigors of school begin. For some kids, last-minute drills can heighten anxiety, reminding them of what they’ve forgotten instead of what they remember.
Set schedules. Establish regular routines for elementary school kids and preschoolers. Not only does this include bedtime and wake-up time, but homework schedules, play time and computer/video game time. The Children at Risk Foundation recommends only allowing children four hours of video games during the school week. Schedule study blocks on the weekends before big tests, mid-terms and finals. Use positive phrasing, such as “You can go outside after your homework is done,” rather than “You’re not going outside until this is finished.”
Get to know new teachers. There will be open houses, orientations, and other meet-and-greet options at the beginning of the school year, but none will give you the chance to spend some quality time getting to know your kids’ teachers. Try to find a few minutes before or after school to connect one-on-one with the teachers. If your school hosts an open house, be sure to go. Familiarizing your child with her environment will help her avoid a nervous stomach on the first day. Together you can meet her teacher, find her desk, or explore the playground. With an older child, you might ask him to give you a tour of the school. This will help refresh his memory and yours.
Plan healthy lunches and snacks. The better you plan out the meals in your home, the healthier choices you will make for your kids. When you pack protein-rich snacks and lunches, balanced with fruits, vegetables, and other wholesome items, you ensure that your children will have the energy and brainpower to make it through their school days.
Organize clothing. Donate or dispose of the clothing that your kids have outgrown, but you should also take the time to carefully organize what is left. From there, decide what items you may need more of before school begins. The last thing a parent wants is to spend time each day trying to find a pair of pants that fits.
Set up a homework area. Find a central spot to store everything related to school, including backpacks, school supplies and a dry erase calendar with family schedules. Try to keep this area free of clutter and other non-school items so that you can find what you need, when you need it. Go through your kids’ schoolwork once a month to toss the things you don’t want. Create an inbox for kids to leave things that need your attention, like permission slips. Repurpose and relabel plastic tubs to organize all school supplies.
If your child needs a physical, consider going to an urgent care. Most schools require a physical examination before the sport season starts and signed consent forms from parents. The form is online and available at most pediatrician’s office. If a parent isn’t able to squeeze in an appointment with his or her child’s pediatrician (or the doctor is booked), consider stopping by an urgent care or walk-in clinic.
Prepare the night before. Encourage your kids to lay out their school clothes and pack their lunch the night before. Nothing leads to a stressful morning like children running around looking for something to wear or stressing because you’re out of peanut butter.
Ready, set, learn. Set up weekly meetings to review your kids’ schedules for the week(s) ahead. Set your clocks forward 10 minutes. This makes it easier to be on time. Create a family calendar that tracks everyone’s activities and commitments. Set a regular alarm each day that signals the start of homework time.
On a budget
While many parents know to use Tax-Free Weekend (Aug 11-13) to take advantage of annual back-to-school specials on supplies, here are a few other tips to keep your money on track as you head back to school.
Take inventory. There’s always that endless supply of makers, crayons and notebooks around the house. Reusing these items can save hundreds of dollars over the years. Consider repackaging, sharpening, and cleaning out older, gently used items before purchasing new ones.
Look for the deals. Some retailers’ back-to-school specials are available for online and in-store purchase. Many retailers provide online only offers and ship to store services. Oftentimes, retailers advertise special buy-one-get-one-free or gift with purchase deals.
Set a budget. Decide how much you are willing to spend per child, and include your children for a “teachable moment” by creating a budget. After taking inventory, create a shopping list and stick to it. This will help you avoid costly impulse purchases as well as ensure nothing is forgotten.
Know what your child’s school allows. Schools will often provide parents with a list of required items for the school year which can help determine what needs to be purchased. These lists are also available at many retail stores and on school websites. Additionally, many schools have specific dress codes, so keep these restrictions in mind before spending money on clothes the school may not allow.
Buy in bulk. While it may be tempting to buy that pre-packaged pack of apples or grapes, buying snacks in bunches like bags of grapes can be easily added to lunches. Also consider buying reusable sports bottles to increase your child’s water consumption during the day.
The Houston Independent School District could find itself with new managers – the State of Texas – if it doesn’t improve some of its failing schools.
The Texas Education Agency has given district officials until Sept. 11 to turn the low performing schools around or risk going into conservatorship. Thirteen schools are under the gun and if they aren’t improved, they could cause the district to be placed under the jurisdiction of state-appointed managers as early as next year
A 22-page letter dated July 13 specifically targeted Kashmere High School, which has received failing ratings since 2002 (with the exception of 2007 and 2008 when it improved under the threat of closure). HISD submitted a turnaround plan to get the school out of Improvement Required (IR) status. TEA officials did not approve that plan.
“The letter basically said that the plan that was submitted was deficient,” said HISD attorney Elneita Hutchins-Taylor. “And that a turnaround plan has to be reasonably calculated to make students perform at a high level. The commissioner, after reviewing the district’s plan didn’t feel like it was enough for the school to reasonably say if implemented, the school could come out of IR status. So they’ve given us another opportunity to come back, revise the plan, and submit it by Sept. 11.”
TEA officials told lawmakers that if even one of the district’s 13 schools that has struggled for at least the past three years receives failing accountability marks in 2017 and again in 2018, it could trigger state oversight of the entire district.
TEA would then do one of three things: Appoint a board manager who replaces the trustees; Plan alternative management of the school (i.e., hire an outside company); or close individual campuses.
HISD Trustee Jolanda Jones, who recently held an urgent community meeting to discuss the issue, said a TEA takeover would be disastrous for district schools.
“I look at history,” Jones said. “No school that TEA has ever taken over has survived. The conservator for Kashmere helped write the turnaround plan and TEA did not approve that plan.”
TEA could take over the district thanks to a law passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2015 that targets schools that have been in “improvement required” status for five or more years, as of the 2018-2019 school year.
While the state has taken over individual schools and smaller districts in the past, the law could overhaul how public education is provided in Texas. HISD is the seventh-largest district in the country, serving more than 210,000 students at over 280 schools and operating with a $2 billion annual budget.
HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza, board President Wanda Adams and other district leaders planned to travel to Austin to meet with TEA and key state officials.
“Houston ISD is aware of major concerns the Texas Education Agency has expressed regarding several of our schools considered ‘chronically underperforming,” the district said in a statement. “HISD shares the agency’s concerns and is working closely with TEA on the transformative work we must do at the local level to ensure every HISD student receives an excellent education.”
State Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., a Houston Democrat, said he could support a state takeover because he doesn’t have enough confidence in HISD to turn around schools that have been continuously identified as failing.
“We have almost 15,000 kids in failing schools in Texas. I’m tired of that. Most of them are in my district. Most of them are Black and Brown schools,” Dutton said.
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) discusses the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bill that repeals provisions of No Child Left Behind and expands the state’s role in education (December 8, 2015).
Arizona, North Dakota, and Vermont will have to make changes to their plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act when it comes to accountability, low-performing schools, and more, according to feedback letters released Thursday.
We read the letters so you don’t have to:
Arizona, like a host of other states, will need to change the way that science factors into its accountability system. Science can be included in the systems but it can’t be part of the “academic achievement” portion of state plans. (More here.) The state also must revamp how schools’ test participation will factor into their overall ratings…
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Wednesday gave Nevada, New Jersey, and New Mexico the green light on their plans to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act. The three states join just one other, Delaware, whose plan was approved earlier this month.
All four states will begin implementing the law when the 2017-18 school year kicks off.
The states made some changes to win the department’s approval. For instance, Nevada changed the way science tests figure into its accountability system. And the department asked New Jersey for more specifics on how it will identify and turnaround low-performing schools. It also asked New Mexico for further detail on teacher quality…
Every student deserves an education that prepares them for lifelong learning and success, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, family background, or income level. Ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities is why the Department of Public Instruction and key partners have joined together in their commitment to close opportunity gaps and improve student outcomes across the state.
The Innovations in Equity Conference will provide educators the tools and connections they need to act as educational equity leaders in their field. Attend the conference to connect with like-minded peers and learn from one another on various topics around educational equity.
Who Should Attend
Individuals responsible for systemic change resulting in improved achievement
Individuals focused on improved achievement particularly for students of color, students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), economically disadvantaged students, and English learners
Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) faculty and students
Presentation Topics
Leading for equity
Using data to make decisions
Focusing on inclusive teaching and learning
Improving literacy and math practices
Accessing supports under ESEA and IDEA to strengthen practices
*Note – Fees are waived and supported by grant funds for the following groups: Title I Focus & Priority Schools, SPDG, pre-service teachers, and IHE faculty
State Superintendent Issues Notice for Public Comment on Academic Standards
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will start a review of academic standards in Environmental Education, Social Studies, and the Essential Elements Science. The process begins with the Academic Standards Review Council soliciting public input on each set of standards to determine the need for revisions.
Academic standards are written goals for teaching and learning that tell students, parents, educators, and citizens what students should have learned at a given point in time. Standards in a subject area help ensure that schools offer students the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success in that subject. In Wisconsin, academic standards serve as a guide for planning curriculum and lessons and are voluntary for all schools.
The public is invited to provide input on whether a revision of standards in Environmental Education, Social Studies, and the Essential Elements Science. Comments will be taken over a 30 day period, after which the Standards Review Council will examine the public comments and submit a recommendation to the State Superintendent. Should a formal rewrite of the standards move forward, the standards themselves will undergo additional public review before adoption.
As summer comes to an end and back-to-school season begins, it can be hard to get back into a regular schedule — both for kids and adults. To make the best of the summer-to-school transition, the Defender has compiled some tips on how parents can avoid being overwhelmed in the coming weeks.
“The letter basically said that the plan that was submitted was deficient,” said HISD attorney Elneita Hutchins-Taylor. “And that a turnaround plan has to be reasonably calculated to make students perform at a high level. The commissioner, after reviewing the district’s plan didn’t feel like it was enough for the school to reasonably say if implemented, the school could come out of IR status. So they’ve given us another opportunity to come back, revise the plan, and submit it by Sept. 11.”
