Questions for State Leaders of Title I RFI

Question Title

* 1. Contact Information

Full Name

School or Organization

State

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 2. In addition to academic indicators (proficiency on annual assessments, high school graduation rates, and progress in achieving English language learner proficiency), ESSA requires states to include a fourth indicator or measure of school quality to be included as part of the state accountability system. The law makes clear that the measure must be valid, reliable and comparable, and offers the following examples for states to consider: student engagement, educator engagement, student access to and completion of advanced coursework, postsecondary readiness, school climate and safety, and any other indicator that a) allows for meaningful differentiation in school performance and b) is valid, reliable, comparable, and statewide (with the same indicator or indicators used for each grade span).

What do you feel are the best measures of school quality according to principals? Are there any indicators that you feel should be added to or deleted from this list?

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* 3. With regard to the new accountability indicator states must identify, the law is clear that states must have optimum flexibility in choosing this indicator. Do you believe that your state has the knowledge and capacity to identify and implement this new measure appropriately?

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* 4. Operationally, what are the biggest concerns principals have related to the “new” Title I? e.g. supplement not supplant, new accountability indicators, reducing the number of assessments, how schools are identified as the “bottom 5%”, etc. Please explain.

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* 5. Given the shift of authority to the states in ESSA, what do you believe will be principals’ greatest challenges at the state level as implementation moves forward (timeline for implementation, transition period before implementation, training/PD for teachers and principals, opportunities for principals to participate in the decision-making process at the state level, etc.)? What could the feds do to further encourage states to address these issues? e.g. issue policy guidance, or regulate directly.