The US Department of Education provided feedback to OSSE regarding the DC State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on Aug. 1, 2017.  ED is reviewing and providing feedback to all states as part of its approval process for ESSA state plans.

OSSE reviewed ED’s feedback from the lens of doing what is most meaningful for our students within DC’s unique context.  We are particularly proud that we designed a plan informed by rigorous engagement with our local education agencies, state board of education, parents, educators, and advocates.

OSSE submitted a revised ESSA State Plan to the US Department of Education on Aug. 15, 2017. We are pleased to be able to make clarifications that respond to ED while preserving the state plan as envisioned by our stakeholders and approved by the DC State Board of Education. We received minimal feedback from USED and much of the feedback was addressed by adding more detailed information. Additionally, in response to ED feedback, OSSE reassigned two metrics in the high school accountability framework into the school climate/school quality category - AP/IB participation and performance, which was originally included in the achievement category, and alternative graduation rate, which was originally included in the graduation rate category.  OSSE did not change the calculation or values of weights assigned to any individual metric.  As a result, the accountability system will work mathematically the same as it did in the originally submitted plan.  

DC’s state plan is guided by our commitment to providing equitable access to high quality education for all students and flexibility for our schools to meet the unique needs of all students.
OSSE believes the plan, as submitted and with the further clarifications provided in August, is the right one for DC and reflects the values of our city - values grounded in equity and flexibility.

We look forward to a swift approval for the US Department of Education.

Browse all OSSE’s ESSA materials.