社区黑料

This update on the Every Student Succeeds Act and the education plans now being implemented by states and school districts is produced in partnership with ESSA Essentials, an ongoing series from the Collaborative for Student Success. It鈥檚 an offshoot of their聽聽newsletter, which you can聽! (See our recent ESSA updates聽from previous weeks right here.)

President Trump鈥檚 2021 budget proposal is receiving from education unions, such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. While it is 鈥渕ore than likely to be rejected by Congress,鈥� the proposed budget includes a number of cuts in education funding and changes in education policy, including 鈥渁n elimination of the government鈥檚 Charter School Program with the intention to have the program lumped into other education department programs.鈥�

Additionally, according to NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garc铆a, the 鈥淭rump/DeVos budget continues pushing schemes that will result in deep funding cuts to public education, including $5 billion for a private school voucher program that will take already scarce money out of public schools.鈥� She also noted that 鈥渂y turning Every Student Succeeds Act funding for schools into a block grant program, this budget would effectively make deeper cuts to funding for our students in communities with the greatest need.鈥�

Idaho state board rethinking accountability goals

The Idaho State Board of Education is considering changes to the state鈥檚 accountability system to ensure that performance metrics not only are complying with federal requirements under ESSA, says State Board President , but are actually helping target, address and improve student performance and achievement. Critchfield wants to 鈥渦se appropriate accountability where it best serves students and support the work of local school boards in accomplishing their goals as well as the federal accountability requirements under ESSA.鈥� She also highlighted the need to focus less on proficiency and more on growth. The board will continue to review student performance measures in order to ensure an equitable approach for all of Idaho鈥檚 school districts.

The Idaho House Education Committee had previously voted to 鈥渞epeal all of Idaho鈥檚 K-12 academic standards in math, English and science.鈥� Since then, the Senate Education Committee voted unanimously to keep the standards.

Also in Idaho, unequal access to advanced coursework for Latino students

Despite some modest improvements since the state 鈥渋mplemented a new accountability system under the Every Student Succeeds Act,鈥� Latino students in Idaho 鈥渉ave unequal representation in Advanced Placement classes, advanced math in junior high and especially in elementary school gifted and talented programs,鈥� according to a . For example, despite Latinos making up 19 percent of elementary school students, only 6 percent of students enrolled in gifted programs are Latino. According to Kris Rodine with the Idaho State Department of Education, 鈥淥ur accountability system focuses on the need to continue to improve participation in advanced courses and opportunities for Latino students 鈥� and we have made significant improvements on that front.鈥�

Building trust with rural parents

In the聽, education expert Christopher Holmes takes a look at what rural school districts can do to facilitate greater parent engagement. Holmes writes: 鈥淭o meet the goals of parent and family engagement policy in ESSA, educators must abandon their own middle-class mindsets and cultivate relationships that value and consider the cultures in rural communities.鈥� Holmes says that schools can leverage the autonomy provided by ESSA 鈥渢o develop and implement unique programming that specifically focuses on the needs of their student population.鈥� Ultimately, when rural schools 鈥渄evelop new and innovative strategies that gain them access to the communities they serve,鈥� Holmes argues, parents will become more engaged and aligned with rural school districts across Georgia.

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