Priority Issue: MABE's Committee on ESSA

The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015, represents a comprehensive revision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which since 2002 has been known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). MABE and the National School Boards Association (NSBA) agree that ESSA provides a historic opportunity for school boards across the country to help shape how this law will impact their schools, teachers and students. For more information, go to MABE’s Priority Issue page on ESSA.

MABE’s Ad Hoc Commitee on ESSA 

MABE has established a Committee on ESSA in order to provide a forum for members of local boards of education to review, analyze, discuss and recommend MABE positions on issues pertaining to the federal, state, and local school system implementation of ESSA. This committee will guide MABE’s engagement with the National School Boards Association (NSBA), Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and other educational stakeholders on ESSA implementation issues.

MABE’s Committee on ESSA provides a forum for discussing and informing MABE’s participation on the Maryland State Department of Education’s (MSDE) “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Stakeholder Committee.”  This MSDE stakeholder group, on which MABE is represented by Mary Kingston Roche, Prince George’s County board member, was created to participate in the review of the new federal law and development of Maryland’s State Plan to implement ESSA. Currently, the state workgroup is meeting bimonthly; and Maryland’s new state accountability plan aligned with ESSA is to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in March of 2017. For more information, go to the State workgroup web page.

MABE’s Committee on ESSA has been meeting regularly to fulfill the objectives outlined in the committee’s charge statement. The committee met for the first time on August 8, 2016 (agenda); and agreed to write a letter to State Superintendent Karen Salmon regarding the ESSA stakeholder group and implementation timeline. Dr. Salmon responded on August 29, 2016. In addition, the Committee has informed MABE’s participation in the work of the State Board. MABE presented on ESSA to the State Board of Education on October 25, 2016 (MABE Comments). In addition, the Committee has met with MSDE’s Assistant State Superintendent, Dr. Mary Gable; and MSDE’s Director of Research, Dr. Dara Shaw.   The Committee is focusing on providing input to the State Board on its draft State ESSA Plan, which was approved by the State Board on July 27, 2017 and is avialable for public comment through August 10, 2017.

MABE Presents Comments on the Proposed ESSA State Plan to the State Board of Education

• MABE Letter to the State Superintendent and Stae Board on the Proposed ESSA State Plan

​On July 18, MABE President Joy Schaefer addressed the State Board of Education on MABE’s letter outlining the Association’s priorities and concerns regarding the draft ESSA State Plan. President Schaefer was pleased to have the opportunity to present MABE’s positions on the draft ESSA State Plan, including concerns with the proposed five-star ranking system, timing and definition of schools identified for interventions and supports, and definition of a well-rounded high school education.

Opportunity for Input on the State’s Plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

​The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has replaced the No Child Left Behind Act as the federal law governing elementary and secondary education. ESSA gives states broader flexibility than NCLB and encourages states, local school systems, and schools to innovate while at the same time holding all accountable for results. Under ESSA, each state is required to develop a state accountability plan which describes the state’s academic standards, assessments, and accountability measures.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) formed a stakeholder group including local board members and superintendents and developed a draft state plan in December 2017. On June 27, 2017 the State Board of Education approved the updated draft plan provided below and is seeking comments during the next 30 days, including responses to the survey provided below. The final plan will be voted on in August, and must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in September.

MABE encourages board members to review the State Plan, the helpful overview of the State Plan, respond to the survey, and submit comments.

Maryland ESSA Consolidated State Plan Overview
DRAFT PLAN – June 2017

For more information, contact John R. Woolums, Esq., MABE’s Director of Governmental Relations, at jwoolums@mabe.org or 410-841-5414.