Finally, an ESEA Blueprint from the Feds
After months of anticipation, we finally have the official blueprint for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act form the Obama Administration. The plan was teased in some news articles yesterday (Saturday) morning and was previewed during President Barack Obama's weekly radio address on Saturday morning. The official plan, found here, was officially released on Saturday evening at 8 p.m.
At first glance, I found the plan to be whelming. On the whole, I thought it was entirely solid and relatively thoughtful. But as I read it (and it shows you what type of life Eduflack lives when he spends his Saturday night reading the Administration's ESEA blueprint, but for what is was worth, I was also watching West Virginia University beat Georgetown), I was surprised by how little I was surprised with. As we used to write about two years ago, this was clearly NCLB 2.0. Much of the last iteration of ESEA remains intact. Some needed improvements are being made. And the priorities emphasized in Race to the Top are being codified, hopefully, into the new law.
The highlights? The plan is grouped under five key principles (not to be confused with ED's four pillars). The principles include: college and career-ready students, great teachers and leaders, raise the bar and reward excellence, equity and opportunity, and promote innovation. These principles break into the following tasks:
- College and Career-Ready Students — Raising standards for all students, better assessments, a complete education (meaning a well-rounded curriculum beyond the common core standards)
- Great Teachers and Leaders in Every School — Effective teachers and principals, our best teachers and leaders where they are needed the most, and strengthening teacher and leadership preparation and recruitment.
- Equity and Opportunity for All Students — Rigorous and fair accountability for all students, meeting the needs of diverse learners, and greater equity.
- Raise the Bar and Reward Excellence — Fostering a Race to the Top, supporting effective school choice, and promoting a culture of college readiness and success.
- Promoting Innovation and Continuous Improvement — Fostering innovation and accelerating success, supporting recognizing and rewarding local innovations, and supporting student success.
See, nothing that exactly shakes the K-12 education earth. As I read the blueprint, I am seeing much of the original intent of NCLB, mixed in with the goals of RttT, a heavy, heavy influence of common core
