Federal Programs Spring Directors’ Conference
Developing Federal Programs of Excellence
March 6-7, 2012
Waterfront Hotel - Morgantown, WV
Overview
• Where Are We Headed?
• ESEA Flexibility Waiver
• Legislative Update
Where Are We Headed?
Where Are We Headed?
ESEA Flexibility WAIVER
States must take comprehensive actions
To receive a waiver, states must:
 Adopt and implement college and career-ready
standards and aligned assessments of knowledge
and skills
 Design and implement a rigorous statewide
accountability system
 Design, pilot, and implement, over a number of
years, a system of teacher and leader evaluation
based on student achievement
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ESEA Flexibility Package Includes Several Elements
Proposals must provide commitments, plans, rationale, evidence,
etc. on several issues in each area.
1. College and Career-Ready Standards and
Assessments for All Students
A. Adopt college and career-ready standards
(Common Core)
B. Transition Plan to college and career-ready
standards
C. Develop and administer annual, statewide,
aligned assessments that measure student
growth in knowledge and skills
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ESEA Flexibility Package Includes Several Elements
Proposals must provide commitments, plans, rationale, evidence,
etc. on several issues in each area.
3. Effective Instruction and Leadership through
Educator Evaluation
A. Develop/adopt guidelines for teacher &
principal evaluation and support systems
B. Ensure LEAs implement evaluation and
support systems
HB 4236
• 2012-13 Expansion of current pilot
• 2013-14 Statewide implementation
• Evaluation and support systems
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ESEA Flexibility Package Includes Several Elements
Proposals must provide commitments, plans, rationale, evidence,
etc. on several issues in each area.
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2. Differentiated Systems of Recognition,
Accountability, and Support
A. Develop and implement a state-based system of
differentiated recognition, accountability, and
support
B. Set ambitious but achievable annual measurable
objectives
C. Identify Reward Schools (highest-performing)
D. Identify Priority Schools (lowest-performing),
E. Identify Focus Schools (achievement gaps/lowestperforming subgroups)
F. Provide incentives and supports for other Title I
schools
Unpacking ESEA Flexibility on Accountability
and Consequences
To receive NCLB waivers, states must design and implement
college and career ready accountability, with several broad
requirements and many further opportunities for state leadership.
Accountability
 Multiple measures for accountability
 Graduation rates (for high schools)
 High-quality assessments in at least reading/language arts and math
 The RLA and math assessments must be able to measure student
growth.
 Each of these measures must be reported for all subgroups.
 Design the metrics for combining and weighing the multiple measures
 Set ambitious but achievable AMOs in at least reading and math (which
can be based on 100% proficiency by 2020, closing the achievement gaps
by half within six years, or another equally ambitious state plan).
 Note: States must also establish ELP standards aligned to college and
career ready standards and commit to administer aligned ELP
assessments.
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State Plans May Waive Several Key NCLB Provisions
In exchange for this state leadership and innovation, states are able
to receive flexibility through waivers of ten (or more) NCLB areas.
Key waiver areas include:
1. Revise AYP and 2014 timeline for achieving 100% proficiency
(section 111(b)(2)(E));
2. Revise school and district improvement requirements
(section 1116(b) and (c)), including SES, choice, corrective
action, restructuring, etc.; and
3. Revise improvement plan requirements and Title I and Title II
fund restrictions for districts that miss HQT requirements
(section 1111(b)(8)(C)).
4. States also have the option of incorporating other waiver
requests, expressly including flexibility on use of 21st Century
Learning Communities funds to support ELT as well as
afterschool.
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Timelines for ESEA Flexibility Proposals
States can apply for ESEA Flexibility on a rolling basis, with
transition flexibility available. States should carefully consider
when to apply based on needs and readiness.
 For states to receive flexibility by the end of the
2011-12 school year, they were required to submit a
flexibility request during two application windows.
 First Deadline: November 14, 2011 with a
December 2011 peer review
 Second Deadline: February 28, 2012 with a
spring 2012 peer review
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Timelines for ESEA Flexibility Proposals
States can apply for ESEA Flexibility on a rolling basis, with
transition flexibility available. States should carefully consider
when to apply based on needs and readiness.
Date
Activity
Implication
Feb. 2012
Requested waiver to freeze AMAOs
= cut scores for making AYP will remain the same as 2011
Sept 2012
Submit waiver request 10 ESEA requirements
= applicable for the 2013-14 school year
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Important Process
Requirements
• Communicate
• Involve Stakeholders
• Revisions
• Peer Review
Questions & Comments?
Thank You!
Amelia Davis Courts
aadavis@access.k12.wv.us