Schneider’s ESSA Digest, Part II (Pages 47 – 90)
I am in the process of carefully reading the 1,061-page Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the December 10, 2015, reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), and writing a series of posts that will form a digest of those 1,061 pages.
As previously noted, it will take me some time to read and comment on the entire document.
My first entry covers the first 47 pages.
This entry continues by adding info from pages 47 to 90.
Sometimes I refer to pages beyond page 90, and sometimes, I alter the format of quoted excerpts for ease of reading. Sometimes I comment, and sometimes I just summarize.
Here we go.
Pages 47-48: In applying for ESSA Title I funds, each state need not show its “challenging academic standards” in English language arts (ELA), math, and science, and to the US secretary of education; states only need to provide an “assurance” of such standards. States applying for Title I money must also “assure” the US secretary of education that those “challenging academic standards” are tied to a system of measuring “achievement” consisting of at least three achievement levels.
The “challenging academic standards” and associated achievement levels must apply to all students except for “alternate academic achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities” (page 49).
Other sets of standards or modifications to existing standards are prohibited (page 50).
States applying for Title I funds must also show that they have adopted English language proficiency standards for English language learners (page 51).
Page 51 also includes limits on the US secretary regarding approval of state standards:
(G) PROHIBITIONS.—Schneider’s ESSA Digest, Part II (Pages 47 – 90) | deutsch29:
(i) STANDARDS REVIEW OR APPROVAL.—A State shall not be required to submit any standards developed under this subsection to the Secretary for review or approval.
(ii) FEDERAL CONTROL.—The Secretary shall not have the authority to
