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Every Student Succeeds Act becomes law

Posted December 13, 2015 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

The worst parts of No Child Left Behind have been left behind.

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly, on a 85-12 vote, passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on Dec. 9, which diminishes federal control of education reform and shifts it back to the states.

The 1,061-page legislation was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Dec. 10.

"The biggest thing is it allows us the opportunity to breathe," said Red Bud District 132 Superintendent Jonathan Tallman. "By doing this, there's not a constant race out of Springfield to receive federal dollars for new education reforms."

The legislation rewrites the George W. Bush-era No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, which was widely criticized for its one-size-fits-all approach.

"What we've had is a jumble of federal guidelines and overreach as Congress has attempted new reauthorization," Tallman said. "By 2014, all students nationwide were supposed to be meeting NCLB standards. That's unrealistic."

Tallman noted the Obama administration would hand out waivers to help school districts get around the more problematic parts of the NCLB standards, but they would come with strings attached.

"The federal government would give out waivers and there's always conditions to these waivers," he said. "States would pass education reform legislation and we'd all be playing catchup trying to figure out what the new legislation is."

The ESSA does not eliminate the federally-mandated statewide reading and math exams in grades three through eight and once in high school, but the new legislation gives states the power to cap the amount of time students spend on testing.

"It really is giving flexibility to states and local school districts to support student learning and achievement," Tallman said. "I think it's a strong step in the right direction. It restores the proper balance between federal, state and local governments in public education."

States must submit their accountability plans to the Department of Education, which still has a limited oversight role, and test scores and graduation rates must be given more weight compared to other more subjective evaluation measures.

School districts receiving Title I dollars - with federal spending increases to reach $16.2 billion by 2020 - will be required to fill out a state plan.

That plan will include language regarding comprehensive school counseling services, professional development for school counselors and career counseling services.

Title II of the law will now explicitly list school counselors as allowable recipients of federal professional development dollars.

"At least of 20 percent of funds have to be spent on school conditions and student learning programs," said Chester High School Counselor Franciene Sabens. "I think that's a great thing for us."

According to the new law, states will be required to intervene in the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools, as well as high schools with high dropout rates (graduation rates less than 67 percent) and schools with large achievement gaps.

"We just talked to the (Monroe-Randolph Regional Office of Education) about this," Chester High School Principal Dr. Sarah Gass said. "The assessment aspect is not going to change a whole lot. This gives us more flexibility about how and when we administer those tests."

For teachers, ESSA eliminates the federal mandate that teacher evaluation be tied to student performance on tests. However, it does not override the Performance Evaluation Reform Act that former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed in 2010.

PERA took effect on September 1, 2012 and assesses teachers' and principals' professional skills as well as incorporating measures of student growth.

"All schools, all teachers, when they're evaluated, a certain percentage of their evaluation is based upon student growth," Tallman said.

For parents, the legislation means more transparency regarding test scores and how students in their state and local school districts are doing.

Results will also be categorized by race, family income and disability status. Parents will also see per-pupil funding breakdowns by state, district and school.

Sparta District 140 Superintendent Larry Beattie said the new legislation will take time to filter through Springfield.

"We'll have to wait and see," he said.

Ultimately, states will be responsible for setting their own goals and measures of achievement for their schools.

"Local control is so important in education," Tallman said. "Your local elected school board members know the best needs of the students they serve. A lot more so than Springfield and Washington, D.C."

- The Associated Press contributed to this report

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