ESEA May Get Done This YearESEA May Get Done This YearWhat are the big issues?What are the big issues?

William & Mary UniversityMarch 28, 2011

Bruce Hunter

Possible Timeline for ESEA• Out of Senate HELP

committee by Easter• Through the Senate by June• To the President by August• At least most important parts

of ESEA this year• Possible but ambitious• Seems less possible every day

Competitors for Dominance in Education policy?Competitors for Dominance in Education policy?

• Blow it up and start again Choice & Corporate control model– Democrats for Education

Reform– Education trust– Fordham foundation– Alliance for Excellent

Education– Aspen Group– Gates Foundation– Broad Foundation– Walton foundation

• Federal support for state and local leadership– AASA– NSBA– NEA– AFT– CCSSO– PTA– NAESP– NASSP– NABSE– etc

“Reformers” Educators

Competitors for Dominance in Competitors for Dominance in Education policyEducation policy

• Standardization• Federal requirements &

mandates dictate• State as federal enforcer • Diminished Local authority• Increased Local

Responsibility• Decreased Local authority

• Federal leadership in Equity, Research & Demonstration

• Federal Assistance for Students With Greater Needs

• Federal Funds to Help Address Systemic problems

• Balance local/state federal authority and responsibility

• Greater federal/state transparency in rule making

Research Lacking Regarding

Key Reform Proposals• Performance pay improves instruction and

therefore student outcomes• Charter schools will lead to improved student

outcomes • Test Scores primary tool to evaluate teachers and

principals• Firing teachers improves student outcomes

persistently low scoring schools• Firing principals in every low scoring school is

essential to improve student outcomes

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Accountability: Accountability:

• Reformers like NCLB accountability system, • Educators don’t like NCLB

accountability system -want an accountability system that is fair & accurate as well as valid & reliable

AASA Positions on ESEAOur Heaviest Lift

1. Separating Accountability and assessment for instructional planning – One test can’t serve two purposes– Accountability assessments controlled by states

with broad federal guidelines - growth (value added if desired) could use sampling, NAEP, PISA

– Instructional assessment controlled by school districts - measuring growth, by multiple methods, that are transparent and provide immediate feedback to teachers and administrators

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Standards: Standards:

• Reformers don’t have much to say about standards. • Educators want standards that will result in students

as well prepared as students anywhere and that have broad public and political support.

• The NGA and the CCSSO created Core Standards - internationally benchmarked, fewer, higher and clearer.

• Thirty seven states have signed up to implement the core standards.

• AASA: don’t put the new standards under federal control

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Assessment: Assessment:

• Educators, including AASA, would like to move beyond the current generation of state tests to assessment systems

• Reformers are largely silent on the issue of better tests, but the really like having a single score for accountability.

State Assessment Consortia State Assessment Consortia • Two consortia, representing 44 states and DC. • Eleven states belong to both, 6 to neither• Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) hosts 31 states and

received $160 million• Partnership for Assessment of College and Career Readiness (PARCC)

hosts 26 states and received $170 million

SBAC PARCC BOTH NEITHER

AL MI OR AL KY PA AL NJ AK

CO MO PA AR LA RI CO OH MN

CT MT SC AZ MA SC DE OK NE

DE NV SD CA MD TN GA PA TX

GA NH UT CO MS KY SC VA

HI NJ VT DC ND NH WY

ID NM WA DE NH BOLD = both consortia

IA NC WV FL NJ ORANGE = RTTT winner

KS ND WI GA NY

KY OH IL OH

ME OK IN OK

Reauthorization Issues Assessing Special Learners:

• Reformers are largely silent on this issue, but view educators concerns in these areas as just making excuses

• Educators fair, accurate and instructionally useful assessment for ELL and special education students is a priority

• The 2% rule must either be eliminated or made sensible.

AASA Positions on ESEAImproving Accountability and

Assessment Provisions of Title I • Improve the clarity and accuracy of accountability

measures. • Less intrusive and less costly testing – e.g., sampling • Measure student progress by growth. • Use multiple sources of information to measure

learning for instructional guidance. • Measure special education students consistent with

the Individualized Education Program – No arbitrary percentage caps.

• Assess English language learners in a language they understand.

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Formula vs. Competitive: Formula vs. Competitive:

• Administration requested an increase in the proportion of federal dollars for competitive grants.

• Reformers want to use competitive grants to force compliance.

• Educators like formula grants - more predictable for staffing and long term plans.

• AASA supports formula grants opposes shift to more competitive grants

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Charter Schools: Charter Schools:

• Reformers -charter schools are essential for wide scale improvement in student outcomes

• Educators -some charter schools work as well as regular public schools - ought to be a local option.

• Stanford study found that 17% of charters get significantly better and that 37% get significantly worse results than traditional public schools. CREDO, Stanford University, June 2009

Hottest ESEA issue for the 112th

Teachers• Compensating teachers

– Experience & Degrees– Student outcomes/effectiveness

• Evaluating teachers primarily by test scores

• Balancing teacher quality– Across all schools– By per pupil costs

• Eliminating seniority for assignment• Alternative certification

– Special education – Rural isolated districts

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Teachers: Teachers:

• Differences between reformers and administrators• Reformers want:

– New teacher preparation programs– Alternative paths to teaching– Uniform evaluation based on test scores– To be able to fire teachers more easily– To eliminate sonority for placement

• School administrators want:– Better teacher programs tied to practices in school districts– To retain control of teacher evaluation– To be able to remove ineffective teachers more easily– Teacher placement strategies that work to place effective

teachers in hard to staff schools

Reauthorization of the Elementary Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Actand Secondary Education Act

• Improving the Effectiveness of Teachers and Administrators• Accountability for the effectiveness is a state and local

responsibility.• Compensation decisions are a state and local matter.• Evaluations must be created at the local school district. • Permit use of ESEA funds to encourage teachers to work in

hard-to-staff schools.• Provide ESEA funds for hard-to-staff schools.• Distribute professional development funds by percentage of

poverty.• Local flexibility in professional development programs.

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Serving the total child: Serving the total child:

• Reformers view this as making excuses because schools alone can bring every child to high levels of achievement

• Educators have a consensus that in school and non-school barriers to learning must be addressed simultaneously for all children to succeed.

• AASA - Connection of children’s health and personal and social development to students and families will improve student outcomes;

• DIPLOMA

Reauthorization IssuesReauthorization Issues Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education:

• Reformers are largely silent in this area, but there doesn’t seem to be significant opposition.

• Educators view developmental and educational support for children in their first five years of life as essential.

• There is solid research that early support at home & organized settings makes a difference

• The Obama administration strongly supports state efforts to increase access to and the quality of early childhood programs.

Bullying and Harassment• A priority for the Obama Administration– Special education– Gender– Sexual orientation

• Avoiding new administrative burdens– Administration and advocates want more data

• Cyber bullying – legal issues– Free speech– Off campus

• Better PD needed but one size does not fit all• Local policy improvement – if we don’t the feds

will

Vouuchers

• FY11 CR includes language to reverse current sunset provisions.

• Both the House and Senate have the votes to support voucher provisions, and each chamber has introduced a bill to reinstate and expand the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program 4 consecutive government reports document the lack of reliable, valid

academic progress

• We expect to be fighting vouchers on a regular basis in this Congress.

Will they finish ESEA this year?• Thursday’s (3/10/11) meeting included Democratic

Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico; Republican Sens. Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee; Democratic Reps. George Miller of California and Dale E. Kildee of Michigan; Kline and Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of California.

• “It was a good general meeting, a good kickoff,” said Harkin, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “We all agreed we’re going to get it done this year, and I think there are some principles we all pretty much agreed on.”

Kline and Hunter Issue Joint Statement on

White House Education Meeting (3/11/11)• "We appreciate the opportunity to discuss with President Obama

and our Senate counterparts the challenges facing America’s classrooms. Although we have our different approaches, everyone agrees current law is broken and in need of repair. The status quo is failing both students and taxpayers; it is time we reconsidered the role of the federal government in our schools. As we work to develop reforms that focus on what’s best for students, parents, teachers, and communities, we are engaging our colleagues on both sides of the aisle and listening to the concerns of state and local education leaders. For the sake of our children's future and the strength of the American workforce, we must take the time necessary to get this right."

Obama Vows Not to Cut Education Funding, Calls for a Rewrite of ‘No Child’

By Lauren Smith, CQ Staff CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS –March 14, 2011 – Updated 4:01 p.m.

• As for the president’s proposed timeline, last week a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both chambers pledged to rewrite the law this year.

• In reacting to the president’s Monday speech, however, Kline cautioned that “arbitrary” timelines could undermine efforts. “We need to take the time to get this right,” he said.

• “The president made a great case today for why we need to fix our education law in this country,” said Rep. George Miller, ranking member on the House committee. “The status quo is failing our students and putting our future, our economic stability and our global competitiveness at risk.”

I didn’t realize the Congress alone could fix our education laws.The must have powers not enumerated in the constitution

Will they finish ESEA this year?• Kline Statement on President Obama's

Education Speech• WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. House Committee on Education and

the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) released the following statement on President Obama’s education speech at Kenmore Middle School:

• “The president's remarks affirm the importance of fixing the nation’s broken education system. As we develop targeted, fiscally responsible reforms, the Committee on Education and the Workforce continues to work with school officials and state and local leaders to learn about the tools they need to prepare students for the future. We need to take the time to get this right – we cannot allow an arbitrary timeline to undermine quality reforms that encourage innovation, flexibility, and parental involvement.”

SummarySummary

• The debate is very contentious between Educators and “Reformers”, though voice of reformers is increasingly muted.

• The administration has sided almost entirely with the “Reformers”

• The hill is split between educators and reformers.

• There are other contentious issues that require time for consideration.

How About Funding?

Federal BudgetingA Two Step Process

• Budget –Step 1– A Resolution – not a law – not binding– Does set spending limits– House and Senate each produce a budget in

committee– Usually comes to the floor, but often doesn’t in

election years – A blueprint to be followed as much as the

Appropriations committees want to– Due by April 15

Federal BudgetingA Two Step Process

• Appropriations – Step 2– Funds are actually allocated by Appropriations

Committees House and Senate• Harold Rogers, KY - House Chairman• Daniel Inouye, HI, - Senate Chairman

– Appropriations bills are laws and are enforced– 13 subcommittees are given individual allocations

each must pass a bill or some functions of the federal government are unfunded• Labor, HHS, Education Subcommittee -funds education• Dennis Rehberg, MT – House Chairman• Tom Harkin, IA – Senate Chairman

Federal BudgetingA Two Step Process

• Appropriations– Ear marks are funds appropriated that were

not authorized by a law – Riders are provisions attached to an

appropriations bill that last as long as the appropriations bill, i.e. one year • Examples this year are defunding Planned Parenthood

and NPR

Federal BudgetingA Two Step Process

• Continuing Resolutions– When the House and Senate are unable to agree

on spending in one or more of the 13 appropriations bills, a CR, is passed to keep the government working

– If several appropriations bills are not passed an Omnibus bill is passed that wraps all the unpassed bills together

FY11 AppropriationsFY11 AppropriationsDue by October 1, 2010Due by October 1, 2010

Trying for Long-Term CR: House proposed long-term CR (HR 1)

would cut $61.5 billion from FY10 levels, including more than $5 billion from USED

Proposed eliminating 60 programs and cut 13

FY 11 AppropriationsThe dog that didn’t bark

House passed CR – much publicity CR cut roughly 16%

Title I funding is cut $693.5 million. IDEA Part B funding level funded. Rural Education Achievement program (REAP) funding is level funding,

receiving NO CUTS. Education Technology State Grants are cut $100 million (elimination). Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) is cut $271.6 million. 21st Century Learning Community Centers funding is cut $100 million. Head Start funding is cut by just over $1 billion.

Failed in the Senate, as did Senate Democratic substitute

FY11 AppropriationsFY11 Appropriations• Congress is now on the 6th round of CRs!• Impact of CRs on Education:

Had been level-funded in CRs through March 4 The subsequent CR (through March 18) cuts $4 billion from the

federal budget, including $888 million in education: Striving Readers -$250m LEAP Program -$64m Even Start -$66m Smaller Learning Communities -$88m

The current CR (through April 8) cuts government spending by $6 billion, but includes no cuts to education

Going Forward: Recess this week, returning to work on the budget. Government shut down?

Obama FY12 Budget ProposalObama FY12 Budget Proposal

• FY12 budget proposal released Feb 14 (2012-13 school year) • Despite tight economic times, including non-defense

discretionary budget freeze, education receives historic increases

• Proposal includes massive restructuring in ESEA reauthorization 38 programs consolidated to 11

• Policy shift toward competitive grants• Despite overall increases:

– Title I receives $300 million – IDEA received a $200 million increase, falling to 16.5% instead of the

promised 40%

Obama Budget ProposalObama Budget ProposalNew Authority

(change relative to consolidated programs cumulative total)Consolidated Programs

Effective Teachers and Leaders- $447.7 m

Ready to Teach Teacher Quality State Grants

Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund+ 489.4 m

Advanced Credentialing Teacher Incentive Fund

Teacher and Leader Pathways+ $113.9 m

School LeadershipTeach for America

Teacher Quality Partnership Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow Transition to Teaching

Effective Teaching and Learning: STEM+ $25.5 m

Mathematics and Science Partnership

Effective Teaching and Learning: Well Rounded Education+ $20.1 m

Teaching American History Academies for American History and Civics Civic Education Close-Up Fellowships Excellence in Economic Education Foreign Language Assistance Arts in Education

College Pathways and Accelerated Learning- $17.3 m

Advanced Placement High School Graduation Initiative Javits Gifted and Talented Education

Successful, Safe and Healthy StudentsLevel Funded

Alcohol Abuse Reduction Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Foundations for Learning Mental Health integration in Schools Physical Education Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Activities

Expanding Educational Options- $37.1 m Charter School Grants Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Parental Information and Resource Centers Smaller Learning Communities Voluntary Public School Choice

What Funding Should Schools Expect?

• No one knows because the House and Senate seem to be a long way from agreement

• The President’s proposals for consolidation depend on reauthorization of ESEA