During September, thirteen policy analysts published reports about what occurred in Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act)
Arizona: Tricia Parker shared that Arizona’s ESSA plan was approved.
District of Columbia: Martha Cohen wrote that Secretary DeVos approves DC’s ESSA plan.
Oregon: Joanne Yatvin noted that the Oregon ESSA plan was approved.
Vermont: Anne Slonaker reported that Vermont’s ESSA plan was accepted.
Washington: Barbara Ward informed members that Washington was still seeking feedback on their consolidated plan until September 5, 2017.
PreK–12
Arizona: Tricia Parker described Save Our Schools Arizona as a grassroots organization fighting voucher expansion in Arizona. She also shared that YA author Meg Medina was the keynote speaker at the Arizona English Teachers Association [AETA]2017 Conference. Tricia highlighted a number of bills opposed by AETA passed in Arizona’s 2016 Legislative Session, including replacing the word “teacher” with “person,” expanding the private school voucher program, and funding that did not provide a permanent salary increase for teachers and supported high-stakes testing.
Idaho: In Teachers Climbing the Ladder May Need a Boost, Darlene Dyer described the many steps teachers must take to qualify for a “Masters Teacher Premium.”
Louisiana: Jalissa Bates shared that Secretary Betsy Devos Visits Texas and Louisiana for Hurricane Harvey Relief.
New York: Derek Kulnis reported that New York City Offers Free Lunch to all 1.1 million students in the NYC public school system.
Oklahoma: Claudia Swisher described Deborah Gist’s volunteering to teach third grade in Amid Teacher Shortage, Tulsa Superintendent Returns to the Classroom. Claudia also reported that Jacob Rosecrants, a middle school teacher from Oklahoma, won a special election for House District 46. Claudia described the conflict over the accurate reporting of school funding in Is Oklahoma School Funding “Fake News?”
Texas: In No Excuses, Teri Lesesne expressed the concern of many over the Commissioner of Education’s unwillingness to postpone state testing despite the impact of Hurricane Harvey on many students and schools.
Virginia: Leila Christenbury noted that public comments are open for standards of accreditation (8VAC20-131) until October 6, 2017. Comments can be submitted here.
Higher Education
California: Carol Olson reported that EdSource Expands Postsecondary Coverage in order to focus on the challenges faced by students graduating from high school.
Michigan: Robert Rozema shared that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Vows to Review and Repeal Obama-Era Sexual Assault Guidelines.