Essay: Every Student Succeeds Act

The bill that would affect my building would be the approval of the Ohio’s state education plan for implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. This was a concurrent resolution by the 132nd General Assembly. This act affects the primary and secondary education because it leaves more control to the states and districts in determining the content standards students are accountable for. States are to submit their goals and standards and how they plan to achieve them to the US Department of Education, which must then submit additional feedback, and eventually approve. Students will continue to be tested each year from third through eighth grade and then once again their junior year of high school. These standardized tests will then decide each student’s potential in the classroom and the outcome of the state in implementing its plans. This would affect the building because it is implementing what the state deems appropriate in testing, content standards, and the education of the students and how the teachers are required to teach these standards.
This bill would influence the community and students in my building because it is affecting their learning and how they are to be state tested. The Every Student Succeeds Act would provide provisions for students to ensure the success for all students and schools. These provisions that would help my current district would be by providing advanced equity by ensuring critical defenses for the schools disadvantaged and high-needs students. It would require that all the students be taught to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed and be college and career ready. It would also ensure that vital information for the students success is provided to educators, families, students and communities through annual statewide assessments that will measure the students growth and progress toward those high standards. The Every Students Succeeds Act would also give access to high-quality preschools and lastly, it’ll maintain an expectation that there will be accountability and action for the effect of positive changes in low-performing schools.
In regards to educational advocacy, my building will be influenced by this law because the parents and students will need the advocacy to provide the assistance for those who are unable to achieve the support that they would like as individuals. They need the support of someone to handle the concerns or inquires that is being unmet by the superintendent or board of education. The most important part of legislative advocacy is being aware of the situation that is being represented. This includes knowing all sides of the topic, as well as having the right support groups to help with each individual cause. By detailing for the parents, students, staff and community the highlights of this bill they will be informed of the criteria that is going to be expected of their children and what would happen if the students are unable to meet the high learning stakes of the program. Also, the strategies of having legislative advocacy, as well as having parent and child advocates, ensures that their is a safeguard for the culturally responsive values of democracy, equity, and diversity. This is because the students, parents, teachers, and staff rights are being supported and enforced by legal bodies where if they were not provided, could be overlooked. By having these advocates, all is protected and it creates a safe and secure educational system where all students will be supported in their learning. When having parental advocates, they are also being supported in their decisions to provide an education that they feel is best for their child, when at times they may feel that their voice is being unheard. It is important for building leaders to be involved at the legislative level of our education system because principals reference law books on a daily basis in order to address the wide range of complex problems in a school system. A principal’s knowledge of law issues and legal decision-making are vital to providing successful feedback for a successful school.
The action steps for the Every Student Succeeds Act and getting the district involved would be first to update and notify the staff and community on the proposed requirements and how this is going to affect our school system. This would be done either via school bulletin, school board meeting, newsletter, or even at the welcome back to school night. Teachers would be notified formally through meetings and discussions, possibly even professional development to ensure that they are aware of the expectations and what will be seen in the classroom. This would give teachers a clear guideline so that they are adequately prepared to teach the students in the way that is best fit for the children’s’ personalized learning.
To ensure that the Every Student Succeeds Act is being implemented, data of the content standards and student growth would be collected with teacher based team (TBT) meetings and assessment, such as MAP. The teaching and administrative staff would track the students success to ensure that they are meeting the state content standards and showing growth in the content areas. Finally, staff evaluations would show the progress of the teachers personalized instruction with the students and how that differentiation is aiding in the growth of each individual child.
The Every Student Succeeds Act has put in place measures that revealed achievement gaps among traditionally under achieving students and districts and has inspired an important national discussion on education improvement. This focus on accountability has been crucial in making sure that all children have a quality education. Parents, educators, and government officials across the country understand that a new and powerful law was critical in expanding the opportunity for all students and to encourage and support schools, teachers, and principals, and most importantly to strengthen our education system for student success and growth.