Dive Brief:
- A written comment period, ended Jan. 21, for implementation guidance on the Every Student Succeeds Act generated comments from 350 education experts, policymakers, parents, and others whose suggestions were all over the map, and sometimes contradictory.
- Overall, most teachers and education experts were in favor of "a regulatory philosophy that puts a premium on local decisionmaking," Education Week reports, while others questioned policy specifics and wiggle room related to testing participation rates.
- Some, like Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Mitchell D. Chester, asked for straight federal guidance to help the practical interpretation of accountability measures for schools.
Dive Insight:
Because guidance on how to interpret the language that is now law under the Every Student Succeeds Act, schools and districts have been waiting with baited breath to see just how the new law's guidelines play out. At this point, after reviewing 350 comments, Education Week generalized that those interested in the legislation had comments that were broad, specific, and diverse. For example, comments related to teacher quality both urged the federal authorities to develop more strident evaluation standards and also encouraged more flexibility on teacher qualifications — two standpoints that may oppose each other and could perhaps create conflict.
Predictably, interest groups like Chiefs for Change, a coalition of state and district superintendents that is pro-rigorous testing standards, commented that they didn't want the department to allow wiggle room in regards to testing participation rates.
Moving forward, the Department of Education will review the comments, and eventually issue more guidance. Until then, it's still too soon for districts to start planning for new changes related to almost every part of ESSA.