FED
ED
Advocating for Suburban Schools
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION
FED ED supports for meaningful and positive changes in the law. While we support federal accountability, our members do not believe that one size fits all public schools and that governance ought to be local whenever possible.
We are encouraged by Secretary Duncan’s remarks that NCLB labels too “many schools as failing even when they are making real progress- it places too much emphasis on absolute test scores rather than growth- and it is overly prescriptive in some ways while it is too blunt an instrument of reform in other areas. Lawmakers should heed these broad principles as they begin anew their debate.
FED ED recommends that the new law include the following:
Multiple Indicators/Assessments to measure progress- States should be able to use multiple, state-developed assessments taken at different points in time to measure AYP. We are especially encouraged by the provision that would allow states to consider more than reading and math assessments in AYP determination addressing one of FED ED’s priorities-the narrowing of the curriculum that has occurred with the current law’s emphasis on reading and math.
Growth Model Assessments- This will allow states to integrate measurement of student academic growth into the state’s definition of adequate yearly progress. We support the provisions that lay out principles for growth models, thus allowing for flexibility and innovation as new models are developed. We also strongly support the funding that is provided for states to build capacity in order to appropriately incorporate growth model assessments into their assessment infrastructure.
New provisions for assessing ELL Students- FED ED supports new provisions including: • the use of portfolios and other alternate assessment measures to test ELL students using valid and reliable alternate assessments and allowing states to exclude the assessment results of recently arrived ELL students when determining AYP.
New provisions supporting curriculum development- FED ED strongly supports the new program providing funds to low-income districts to support high quality instruction in music and arts, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, history, geography and physical education and health.
Assessment of Students with Disabilities- FED ED supports provisions that provide additional flexibility regarding assessment of students with disabilities. These include allowing special education students to remain in the special education subgroup for accountability purposes for three years after they exit those programs; maintaining the policies allowing alternate assessments for students the most severe cognitive disabilities, and allowing certain districts with high numbers of students with disabilities to get a waiver to change the 2% cap to a 3% cap without such students counting against the state’s overall cap.
Response to Intervention (RTI) - Response to Intervention (RTI) is a key concept in the IDEA reauthorization and is becoming an important tool for improving the achievement of subgroups of students who need academic and behavioral interventions. FED ED recommends that the reauthorization recognize RTI as a valuable tool and provide additional funds for training and dissemination of best practices.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)
Fully Funding IDEA is Critical– FED ED districts have long advocated full mandatory funding of IDEA and benefited greatly from the significant increases included in the ARRA and hope this sets the stage for the final steps to full funding of IDEA.
VOUCHERS
FED ED is strongly opposed to any efforts to expand federal voucher programs. We join other education groups who support public dollars for public schools. Any school accessing federal dollars should be subject to the same accountability requirements as public schools. It is time to take a strong stand on behalf of public schools and eliminate federal voucher programs.
Champions of Public Education
Then Senator (now President of the United States) Barack Obama and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin address the Illinois legislative breakfast.
FED ED's Legislative Pillars
The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) should include growth model assessments, eliminate punitive sanctions and provide flexibility to local districts.
The long-term funding interests of our districts lie in the full-funding of IDEA, Title I, and ESEA formula grants which provide stable funds that can lead to sustainable change.
Jobs for Educators
FED ED vigorously supported the $10 billion supplemental bill to save educator jobs. Illinois alone is expected was expected lose 17,000 teachers unless action was taken. FED thanks the Illinois legislators who voted for the bill.