ED needs primer on flexibility and local control
Anyone looking for examples of compulsive micro-management by government officials need look no further than the latest advisories from the U.S. Department of Education on the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
The White House proclaimed in a press release issued on the day President Barack Obama signed ESSA into law that it would “[e]mpower state and local decision-makers to develop their own strong systems for school improvement based upon evidence, rather than imposing cookie-cutter federal solutions like No Child Left Behind (NCLB) did.” But ED wasted no time (one week plus a day) in cautioning districts that certain provisions of NCLB must remain in place, regardless of the flexibility foundational to ESSA, through the upcoming summer months.
Less than two months later, the Department was at it again, insisting that other components must continue through next school year – again, in direct opposition to the intent of the new legislation. The directive is a remarkably curious development, given the fact that former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was passing out waivers like so many candy Valentine’s Day hearts the last three years that NCLB remained in effect. On the other hand, maybe the behavior is not strange at all since the Education Department seems more concerned with advancing its own agenda (no matter what law is in effect) than allowing states to determine ways to improve their schools for themselves.
To justify its edicts ED is taking advantage of the portion of ESSA that gives the Secretary of Education authority to take steps to ensure an “orderly transition” from programs presently in place to the revised requirements specified in state plans (yet to be developed and approved). (ESSA §4(b))
It should be pointed out that the phrase does not translate into seizing total control in order to mandate regulations that are inconsistent with ESSA. This objection is especially pertinent given ED needs primer on flexibility and local control :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: