ESEA Reauthorization Resources: A Round-Up

SparkAction

May 18, 2010

Congress is working on the renewing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which is the major federal bill that covers education. We're gathering information on what's on the table during reauthorization and a list of resources and reactions to the proposed policy changes. Share your information today!

Policy Changes and Recommendations

Department of Education's Reauthorization Blog & Blueprint. On March 13, 2010, the Obama administration released its blueprint for revising the ESEA, which would ask states to adopt college- and career-ready standards and reward schools for gains in student achievement. The Department of Education blog posts explain the blueprint and other key information.
Karen Pittman's Testimony. In her testimony to Congress on ESEA reauthorization, Karen Pittman argued for taking a broad view where it counts – including the quality of the classroom learning environment when it comes to evaluating teachers, including family and community supports when it comes to defining the educational system, expanding outcomes when setting criteria for major funding streams and broadening measures of student success beyond literacy and math to include 21st century skills.
The Coalition for Community Schools (CSS) is an alliance of organizations in education, youth development, health and mental health services, social and emotional learning, community development and related fields. CSS proposes that Congress: include community schools in the ESEA statute as an allowable school intervention model, integrate community into the Key Aspects of ESEA, build on Title 1 recognition of Community Schools, and align and coordinate the Department of Education and other federal agency resources.
In March 2010, CLASP released recommendations for the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) emphasizing “solutions for dealing with students who have dropped out” of high school. CLASP believes that by holding local education agencies (LEAs) accountable for dropouts, opening the door for flexible education options, creating partnerships with other youth-serving entities, and committing adequate resources to fully address this problem, a reauthorized ESEA can help end the dropout crisis.
National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) detailed recommendations to improve the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for struggling students and disconnected youth. NYEC encourages Congress to recognize and prioritize the nation’s dropout crisis by giving youth who are disconnected from school a second chance to get back on track toward a diploma. Recommendations include providing strategies for dropout recovery and incentives for reengagement, supporting districts in providing multiple education pathways to earn a high school diploma, and encouraging local education agencies (LEAs) to collaborate with community partners to devise strategies for effectively teaching all young people.
The Afterschool Alliance works to ensure that all children, especially at-risk and struggling learners, have access to quality before-school, afterschool and summer opportunities. In March 2010, the Alliance provided recommendations for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which largely emphasize the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers and learning opportunities outside of traditional school hours. The Alliance also suggests adding time to the school day or year, as well as increasing afterschool for older youth and improving supplemental educational services for all youth.
The Center for American Progress urges Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in order to better meet the needs of a 21^st century school system. CAP’s recommendations include prioritizing reforms to improve teacher effectiveness and attract and retain effective teachers in high-poverty schools, redesigning the formula that is responsible for allocating federal funds, and supporting states to develop and implement a set of common content standards. In addition, CAP encourages Congress to develop a competitive grant program that will “invest and inspire innovative education reforms to ensure American schools remain competitive in today’s global economy.”
The Learning First Alliance calls for the reauthorization of ESEA to promote improved assessment systems that better capture whether students are gaining the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century.