Minnesota submits Every Student
Succeeds Act state plan with focus on improving equity in schools
Plan emphasizes outcomes for each student population at every school and
will increase number of Minnesota schools receiving on-the-ground support
ROSEVILLE, MN – Today, the Minnesota Department of Education
submitted the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan to the U.S.
Department of Education for review and approval. Developed over the last 21 months,
with input from 300 public meetings and feedback from thousands of stakeholders
from across the state provided, Minnesota’s plan is designed to create more equitable
opportunities and outcomes for all students.
“Minnesotans have
always placed a high value on our schools and the world of opportunities that
come from a great education,” Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. “Our state plan was created with input from
thousands of educators, parents and community members and is grounded in our goal
that every child has access to an education that celebrates a student’s unique assets,
works to overcome barriers to learning and helps every child reach their full
potential.”
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed in December
2015 as the nation’s new pre-K through grade 12 federal education law,
replacing No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and promises to address educational
disparities and inequities for students living in poverty, students of color,
American Indian students, and students with disabilities. Unlike NCLB, the new
ESSA law has at its core a commitment to not only identifying achievement
disparities among students, but requires states to work with underperforming
schools to create individual plans that strategically
address disparate outcomes.
Minnesota’s ESSA plan emphasizes family and community
engagement during all stages of a student’s educational career. It requires
that school districts consult with all local tribal nations and communities,
and outlines a process for creating a more cohesive statewide approach to
supporting English learners. Further, the plan ensures that local school
districts will be held accountable for supporting every student in their
schools. Instead of only looking at overall student achievement, schools will
be accountable for the achievement of students by race, socio-economic status
and disability. Schools will also be required to look at their expulsion and
suspension data closely and integrate strategies to address disparities and
improve school attendance rates.
“Creating a
world-class education system doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it requires all hands
on deck,” said Cassellius. “I want
to thank the teachers, school leaders and community members who contributed to
shaping this plan. Together, we have created a roadmap that will lead us to better
outcomes and opportunities for every child in Minnesota.
Under Minnesota’s ESSA plan, the state’s award-winning
Regional Centers of Excellence will significantly expand their involvement with
schools and districts identified as needing support to improve. The plan calls
for identification and varying levels of support for between 300 and 400
schools, an increase from the 85 schools currently working with the Regional
Centers under the NCLB waiver. Minnesota high schools will be included in the cohort
of schools receiving assistance and support. The Regional Centers, recognized
by Harvard University as a top program in national innovation in 2015, provide
on-the-ground assistance to districts and schools to create the capacity and
conditions that support change. This support can be a variety of forms, such as
guidance on professional development, community engagement or reviewing data.
Next Steps and Additional
Information
The
U.S. Department of Education has 120 days to respond to Minnesota’s state plan,
after which the work to implement the finalized plan will begin.
Minnesota’s
plan, as submitted, is available on the MDE website here: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/ESSA/mnstp/.
Commissioner
Cassellius also released a letter to stakeholders outlining changes between the
draft state plan posted for public comment on August 1 and the
finalized plan submitted today. The letter is available on the MDE website at: http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=mde072449&RevisionSelectionMethod=latestReleased&Rendition=primary
An executive summary of the plan is available on the MDE website at: http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=mde072430&RevisionSelectionMethod=latestReleased&Rendition=primary
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