Dear LEA leaders,
I hope you’re doing well. I am reaching out to you to share updates regarding our efforts to support a smooth transition to implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the development of the new state education plan required by the Act including immediate and upcoming engagement opportunities. As you know, ESSA is the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or ESEA. Because ESSA itself and the state education plan that DC will develop and submit to the U.S. Department of Education under ESSA, will have broad implications for our collective work, including a new system of school accountability, reporting requirements, approach to supporting English language learners, federal grants funding, and other areas, we want to be sure you and your teams are aware of the changes and deeply involved in the development of the state plan.*
We have developed several ways for you and your staff to get involved:
Take a survey
- [action requested] Measures survey: In follow up to meetings held with LEA leaders and other stakeholders this spring and summer, OSSE is seeking input on potential measures to help guide OSSE’s further planning for the design of both our formal accountability system and state report card/public reporting. The survey is available here and should take about 20-30 minutes to complete. Note: This survey is aimed at LEA leaders and staff, educators, and members of the public who may be interested in a greater level of detail.
- [action requested] Vision for DC Education: OSSE and the DC State Board of Education are seeking input from a diverse group of stakeholders on what makes a successful school. The survey is available here and should take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Note: This survey is more accessible for general members of the public than the measures survey.
Both surveys are open until September 16. OSSE and the SBOE are seeking input as many community stakeholders as possible and encourage you to share the surveys with others in your community.
Attend a meeting
OSSE will be hosting a series of focus groups for LEA leaders and other stakeholders this September and October to gather input and share updates on both the accountability and the other portions of our state plan.
- [action requested] You are invited to learn more about the planned content and register for sessions [see attached; also available here].
- LEA leaders are strongly encouraged to attend the first and final sessions on Sept. 28 and Oct. 26.
- LEA leaders are encouraged to ensure that relevant team members (e.g., data manager, special assistant) attend focus group sessions on their behalf. OSSE will also be hosting webinars a week following each in-person session as a second opportunity to provide input and to hear updates. Information on how to register for webinars will be available in the LEA Look Forward and on OSSE’s ESSA webpage.
- LEA leaders are encouraged to support parent attendance at OSSE’s October 22 city-wide parent summit [Register], where parents will be provided with important resources and have a chance to give input on DC's new State Education Plan under ESSA.
Stay informed
A calendar summarizing key activities and deadlines related to the ESSA transition, and materials from events to date, are available on OSSE’s ESSA webpage. This and the LEA Look Forward are the best places to visit for updates and recaps related to ESSA. Questions may be directed to [email protected].
Thanks for your participation in this work, and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
*Please note: because ESSA primarily governs K-12 education, many of these discussions and opportunities focus on those grades; all LEA leaders are welcome to attend, but some of the discussions may be less relevant for some of you based on the specific student populations you serve. If you ever have questions about specific agendas and topics and how they may pertain to your LEA, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or to [email protected].
Best,
Hanseul
Related Content: Every Student Succeeds Act
