Earlier this summer, U.S. Department of Education released their proposed regulation for the accountability and state plans provisions under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These regulations, once final, will guide the implementation of the ESSA in these areas. Now is the time to weigh in, to provide feedback for USED to consider as they review and revise the proposal into its final form, if your district has any concerns. The USED Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on ESSA and Invitation for Comments can be accessed at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/05/31/2016-12451/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965-as-amended-by-the-every-student-succeeds#table_of_contents
The School Superintendents Association (AASA) and the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) prepared talking points on ESSA that can be accessed at http://aasa.org/policy-blogs.aspx?category=ESEA&blogid=84002. Of the many issues identified by AASA and ASBO, the "USED’s effort to achieve statutory changes to the comparability provision through regulations for 'supplement not supplant (SNS)'" may be of particular interest to your district.
The comment period ends on August 1, 2016, on proposed USED regulations to implement changes to the ESEA by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) enacted on December 10, 2015. The Department must receive your comments on or before August 1, 2016.
AASA has drafted a template response that you may personalize explain how the proposed regulations may affect your district. AASA's template can be accessed at http://www.aasa.org/uploadedFiles/AASA_Blog(1)/ESSA%20call%20to%20action.docx
It's important to note that if your public school is interested in submitting comments, they must be submitted according to the U.S. Department of Education's instructions as follows:
"Submit your comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. We will not accept comments submitted by fax or by email or those submitted after the comment period. To ensure that we do not receive duplicate copies, please submit your comments only once. In addition, please include the Docket ID at the top of your comments.
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov to submit your comments electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing agency documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site under “Are you new to the site?”
- Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery, or Hand Delivery: If you mail or deliver your comments about these proposed regulations, address them to Meredith Miller, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3C106, Washington, DC 20202-2800."