Washington State ESSA Plan – Submitted Oct 31, 2016 – Randy Dorn

On October 31, 2016, outgoing Washington State Superintendent of Schools, Randy Dorn, chose to issue Washington States choices on the ESSA to the US Department of Education.

Given that Mr. Dorn’s tenure has been contentious and that his successor will be elected ~1 week after he issued his edict it seems strange to us that he didn’t wait and give his replacement the opportunity to weigh in. This of course has been his modus operandi…he does what he wants regardless of what the parents and public might want.

Here is the PDF of his submission: essarecommendationsapprovedstatesuptdorn_oct_31_2016

Here is the link to the OSPI website for ESSA: http://k12.wa.us/ESEA/ESSA/default.aspx

Interesting Point #1: NOTE: The ESSA Consolidated Plan Team reviewed the recommendation(s) for Washington’s ESSA Consolidated Plan.
They will not take effect unless they are approved by the State Superintendent and the U.S. Department of Education.

The document is 50 pages….but before you despair…it’s a LOT of white space. They chose to write the document using columns. Here is one example:

Interesting Point #2: The US Department of Education supplies about 10% of the state education funding BUT has fully authority to change, deny or approve what the state plans. So why is it that the State tax payers pay 90% of the bill but the Federal Government has equal weight in decision-making?

So what are the section heading and what page does each start on?

• Accountability System: Page 1
• Learning and Teaching: Page 5
• Student Assessment System: Page 7
• School and District Improvement: Page 12
• Effective Educators: Page 17
• English Learners: Page 21
• Fiscal:  Page 28
• Report Card: Page 29
• Parent and Community Engagement: Page 33
• Early Childhood: Page 41
• Students with Disabilities: Page 48

Interesting Point #3: It appears that OSPI and the USDoE want to pay growing roles in raising children. See Section: Parent and Community Engagement. Here is one section of special interest: Devote resources and staff to ensure schools, districts, and OSPI support and grow family and community engagement. This should occur from students’ birth through graduation and onto their careers.

Interesting Point #4: Section: Early Childhood. What do you think of this? Development of early learning EL proficiency standards, a screener and an assessment for prekindergarten children: It is recommended that OSPI and DEL staff work with their colleagues in other states to identify or create prekindergarten early learning EL proficiency standards, a screener and an assessment. The screener should incorporate a home language survey and information from the guardian. [Note: This makes it appear that they want to being testing children before kindergarten – playing is no longer allowed?]

Interesting Point #5: Students with Disabilities. Please read this section carefully. It comes across as if it’s all about money. “Given the ESSA 1% limitation on the percentage of total tested students that can be alternately assessed, the ESSA Consolidated Plan Team should adopt the statewide definition of the term “cognitively challenged””.

Summary: The ESSA says that parents can choose not to have their children tested (SBAc in Washington State) BUT the ESSA also says that if school district don’t get 95% (or more) participation they can lose money. This document comments about the need to make sure those districts not meeting 95% not be negatively financially impacted…BUT…they need to be encouraged to find a way to make it happen. Either there is choice or there isn’t. ESSA is no better than NCLB and in some ways worse. There is NOT more CHOICE! There is NOT more FREEDOM! The State and local levels have to jump through as many or more hoops than under NCLB.