Federal Policy Update
INTASC
Adam Ezring
Senior Advocacy Associate
Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
December 8, 2011
What is Congress Doing?
Congressional Leaders are Focused on Completing a
Few Key Items Before Leaving Town for the Holidays
3 Key Items on the Congressional Agenda:
 Extending Unemployment Benefits
 Extending the Social Security Payroll Tax Credit
(reduction in the discretionary spending caps)
 Completing the Appropriations Process
Despite progress by the Senate HELP Committee on ESEA
reauthorization, legislation will not be brought to the Senate Floor.
Federal Budget: Overview
Trivia Question
With less than 7 legislative days left in this
congressional session, Congress has completed how
many of the 12 Appropriations bills?
A.
B.
C.
D.
9
5
3
0
Federal Budget: Overview
With less than 7 legislative day left in this
congressional session, Congress has
completed how many of the 12
Appropriations bills?
The Answer is:
C. 3
Federal Budget: Overview
The Continuing Resolution funding the federal
government expires on Dec. 16th. Includes 1.5% Cut =
$329 Million Cut to Title I, Title II, CTE and IDEA
 Congress Has Only Completed 3 of 12 Appropriations Bills
 Only 5/6 Legislative Days Left. Omnibus/Megabus for 8 of 9
(Thursday Night)
 Labor/HHS/Education Most Contentious – Funds Obamacare
 House Proposal Cuts SIG Completely, Bumps Title I and IDEA
 Another CR Until February – Post Holiday Cheer?
The (Not So) “Super Committee”
Trivia Question
CBO Projects how much funding will be
cut from the Department of Education?
A. 1.5B
B. 2.5B
C. 3.5B
The (Not So) “Super Committee”
CBO Projects how much funding will be
cut from the Department of Education?
The Answer Is:
C. 3.5B
The (Not So) “Super Committee”
The “Super Committee” tasked with identifying $1.5T
failed to come to agreement.
 Mandatory Across-the-Board Cuts Go Into Effect January 2nd, 2013
 CBO Projects 7.8% Cut = $3.5 Billion from Education
 $1.12 Billion from Title I, $192 Million from Title II State Grants
 NGA Projects 8.8% Cut, CBPP Projects 9.13% Cut = $4.1 Billion
 Efforts to Amend Sequestration will Persist Over Next Year
ESEA Reauthorization
The Senate HELP Committee Passed A Comprehensive
Reauthorization Bill but Unfortunately Further Progress
is Unlikely in the Near Future
 Favorable Committee Vote (15-7). Bipartisan with Enzi, Alexander
and Kirk. Report Language Being Developed
 Admin Rumored Opposition in favor of Waiver Package
 Harkin Challenge to House of Representatives
 House Title I/Title II Still Unknown Quantity
ESEA Reauthorization: Overview
The Senate HELP Committee Legislation is Very Favorable to State
Departments of Education. Improvement Throughout
Congressional Process
 Broad Discretion in the Design of Accountability Systems/Consistent
with CCSSO’s Efforts Around Next Generation Accountability
 Maintains 4% State Set-Aside with Title I
 Consolidated 16 Programs Into 4 Broader Funding Streams
 New State Determined Turnaround Model Option
 No Prescriptive Definition of Student Growth
ESEA Reauthorization: Title II
Trivia Question
True or False, Title II of the Senate bill
includes a requirement that states
develop Teacher and Leader Evaluation
Systems in order to Receive Title II
Funds?
ESEA Reauthorization: Title II
Trivia Question
True or False, Title II of the Senate bill
includes a requirement that states
develop Teacher and Leader Evaluation
Systems in order to Receive Title II
Funds?
ESEA Reauthorization: Title II
Key Components of Senate Proposed Title II
 Formula Grants to State (Note: Change), 95% of Funds to LEAs
 Primary Purposes – TLE system development, PD, Equitable
Distribution (Using TLE if Available)
 Can Also be Used to Recruit, Prepare, Support, Reward and Retain
 Can be Used to Reduce Class Size (Pre-k to 3rd Only)
 At least 2% of State-level Title II Funds Set-Aside for Improvement of
Principal Performance/HQ Distribution
 Formally Authorizes TIF Program (Recipients must develop or
expand TLE system meeting certain criteria)
 Establishes New Teacher Pathways Program Supporting Activities
for High-Need Subjects in High-Need Schools
NCLB Waivers: Overview
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) talks
are unlikely to result in rapid reauthorization, making
NCLB waivers the most likely path to accountability
system reform.
 On September 23, President Obama announced that USED is
formally inviting states (on a voluntary basis) to apply for "ESEA
flexibility" (under NCLB 9401 waiver authority) in exchange for state
leadership on several college and career ready reforms, including
new accountability systems.
 11 States Submitted First Round Applications. Now in Peer Review
 Feb. 21st Second Round Due Dates
NCLB Waivers: 3 Components
To Receive a Waiver States Must:
1. College and Career-Ready Standards and Assessments for All Students
A. Adopt college and career-ready standards (in at least reading/language arts and math)
B. Transition to college and career-ready standards
C. Develop and administer annual, statewide, aligned assessments that measure student
growth in knowledge and skills
2. State-Developed, 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), including new turnaround principles
E. Identify Focus Schools (achievement gaps/lowest-performing subgroups)
F. Provide incentives and supports for other Title I schools
3. Supporting Effective Instruction and Leadership through Educator Evaluation
A. Develop and adopt guidelines for teacher and principal evaluation and support systems
B. Ensure LEAs implement evaluation and support systems
4. Reducing Duplication and Unnecessary Burden
Key Comparison
NCLB
Waiver Package
Senate Legislation
100% Proficiency for All
Students by 2014-2015
School Year
3 Options of Performance
Targets
Continuous Improvement
toward College and
Career Readiness
Reform Activities for All
Schools that Miss Annual
Targets
Intervention Focused on
Bottom 5% of Schools
and 10% of Schools with
Largest Achievement
Gaps/Subgroups.
(Multiple Measures)
Intervention Focused on
Bottom 5% of Schools
and 5% of Schools with
Largest Achievement
Gaps/Subgroups
(Assessments/GR)
Highly Qualified Teacher
Requirement
Requirement of Teacher
and Leader Evaluation
Systems, Based in
Significant Part on
Student Achievement
Teacher and Leader
Evaluation Systems
Optional via Competitive
Grant Program
Other News Of Note
 USED Policy Brief on Title I Comparability
 Schools serving low-income students are being shortchanged
through inequitable distribution of state and local funds.
 More than 40 percent of Title I schools had lower personnel
expenditures per pupil than the non-Title I schools.
 More than one-third of higher-poverty schools had lower perpupil personnel expenditures than lower-poverty schools.
 USED Releases Final FERPA Regulations
 Published Friday Dec. 2nd, Into Effect Jan. 3rd
 To Foster More Comprehensive Use of Student Data for
Research, Evaluation, Accountability and Improvement
 Balancing Data Access with Privacy Protections
Questions? Reactions?
Adam Ezring
Senior Advocacy Associate
Council of Chief State School Officers – www.ccsso.org
Email: adame@ccsso.org