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ED Releases FAQ for K–12 Leaders on ESSA Transition

By ASBO USA posted 02-29-2016 14:19

  

Last Friday afternoon, the Department of Education (ED) released a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The FAQ provides guidance for K–12 state, district, and local leaders to transition to the education law’s new requirements by SY2017–2018. EdWeek describes the FAQ as an all-in-one “omnibus” of ESSA guidance that summarizes everything ED has decided to do with regards to implementing the law so far.

The 17-page document reiterates many of the provisions ED has noted in its Dear Colleague letters. For example, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers expire on August 1, 2016, and states no longer have to implement NCLB provisions that are void under ESSA (like tying teacher evaluations to student outcomes or using adequate yearly progress [AYP] benchmarks). However, the FAQ also provides additional clarification on several funding, documentation, and teacher-related provisions. EdWeek shares several highlights: 

  • States don’t have to submit new “consolidated plans” for spending Title I and other ESSA funds for SY2016–2017 by July 1, 2016.

  • States can “either stick with their current priority and focus schools, or pick new ones by March 1.” If states keep the same schools, they don’t have to submit documentation to ED.
    • States planning to identify new schools under NCLB waivers can also stick with their current lists if they want.

  • States don’t need to include whether they missed AYP benchmarks on their new school report cards, but do have to indicate whether a school is a priority or focus school.

  • States no longer have to comply with NCLB’s highly qualified teacher (HQT) requirements, but will still be called on to “implement plans they submitted last summer… for high-poverty schools to get their fair share of qualified teachers.”
    • This is somewhat confusing, as many state plans depend in part on the HQT definition or test score-based evaluations. However the FAQ explains more about how this process will work down the line.


The FAQ is divided into five sections:
1) general guidance for transitioning to ESSA, 2) specific guidance regarding NCLB waivers and flexibility, 3) transition guidance regarding Title I programs and requirements, 4) specific guidance regarding Title II Part A programs and requirements, and 5) specific guidance regarding Title III Part A programs and requirements.

Sections 3-5 will be of particular importance to school business officials. These sections include specific guidance on data collection and reporting for LEAs/SEAs to provide to ED as they transition from NCLB to ESSA. As a reminder, Title I involves “Improving Basic Programs Operated by State and Local Educational Agencies”; Title II Part A refers to “Preparing, Training, And Recruiting High-Quality Teachers, Principals, or Other School Leaders”; and Title III Part A relates to “Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students.”


FAQ Section 3 (Title I).
This section addresses guidance on how SEAs/LEAs must administer Title I funding in SY2016–2017, submitting annual measurable objectives (AMOs), NCLB waivers and flexibility requirements, identifying low-performing schools and student subgroups, state reporting, specific consolidated state performance report (CSPR) card requirements, and other items.

FAQ Section 4 (Title II Part A). This section addresses guidance on Title II transition requirements from NCLB to ESSA, special education teacher requirements, professional qualification requirements considering ESSA no longer has the HQT provision, specific actions LEAs/SEAs must take to address AYP benchmarks, school-to-parent communication requirements regarding HQT provisions, state reporting and specific CSPR card requirements, data collection, specific NCLB reporting requirements now void under ESSA, deadlines for submitting reports, and other items.

FAQ Section 5 (Title III Part A). This section addresses guidance on making annual measurable achievement objectives (AMAOs) for English Learners (ELs), timelines for making AMAOs for SYs 2014—2017, consequences for SEAs/LEAs failing to meet AMAOs, state reporting and specific CSPR card requirements, deadlines for submitting reports, and other items.


In an email sent to ASBO International and other K–12 stakeholders, ED officials indicated the FAQs’ purpose was to “support states and LEAs in understanding expectations during the transition to full implementation of the ESSA,” however ED recognizes that “there are questions that are not addressed.” ED plans to update the document “over the coming months,” and is asking K–12 leaders to keep checking for new FAQ updates at ED’s ESSA website. Finally, if you would like to comment on the guidance or have further questions about ESSA implementation, please contact ED by email or write to the agency at:

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202

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