State Actions January 2016 – Policies and Progress Across the Nation

Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin

The State of the States

As many states begin their legislative sessions, Governors across the country are addressing their constituents on the state’s accomplishments to date and goals for the future. Education has been a central topic for many Governors, including:

ESSA Implementation

The US Department of Education (USDOE) released a Request for Information on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) asking the public for comments on implementing programs under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

ExcelinEd submitted a letter recommending that USDOE’s rulemaking remain consistent with the bipartisan intent of the legislation: reducing the federal role in education and empowering states and districts to develop innovative approaches to accountability. We asked the USDOE to regulate or issue guidance only where it is absolutely necessary to explain ambiguous requirements or ensure that state accountability systems identify schools based on measures that are valid, reliable and comparable.

National School Choice Week

This past week marked the sixth annual National School Choice Week. With 27 governors issuing proclamations recognizing School Choice Week in their states and more than 16,000 events held across the country, this was the largest-ever celebration of choice and access in education. The ExcelinEd team attended events in California, Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Nevada, Georgia and Arkansas.

Legislative Update

INDIANA

Governor Mike Pence signed legislation (SB 200 and HB 1003) that provides a one-year safe harbor from consequences related to the state’s new assessments and more rigorous cut scores. SB 200 allows schools’ published A-F grade to be the higher of the grade earned in the 2013-2014 or 2014-2015 school year and also provides relief to schools earning ‘D’ grades that participate in the state’s school voucher program. HB 1003 includes ‘hold harmless’ language regarding teacher evaluations and state-funded performance bonuses. Neither bill would impact the publication of letter grades (or the consequences of those grades) for the 2015-2016 school year.

The Indiana Senate Education Committee also passed a bill that includes a directive to evaluate Education Savings Accounts via a summer study committee. The legislative language passed as an amendment to a larger education bill, and it would create a pathway for the discussion and possible consideration of Education Savings Accounts in future legislative sessions.

NEVADA

Earlier this month, a Nevada District Judge granted a preliminary injunction that orders the State Treasurer to stop implementing Nevada’s landmark Education Savings Accounts program pending further court deliberations. ExcelinEd joined the call for an immediate overturn of this harmful action against the 4,100 children who were counting on these accounts for their education. Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt appealed the injunction to the Nevada Supreme Court, requesting an expedited decision. Thousands of Nevada policymakers, parents, teachers and children displayed their support for Nevada’s education savings account program at School Choice Week events around the state.

TENNESSEE

The Tennessee House Finance, Ways and Means Committee passed the Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Scholarship Act (HB 1049), sponsored by Representative Bill Dunn. The legislation would give low-income students in failing schools across Tennessee the opportunity to attend an accredited, high-quality private school that better serves their individual needs. The committee vote was the last major step before the House floor; the bill has already passed the Senate.

The Tennessee Senate passed SB 151, a bill that ends the automatic collection of union dues from teacher paychecks. Sponsored by Senator Todd Gardenhire, SB 151 does not prevent teachers from joining unions or prevent unions from engaging in political activities, but it does take school districts out of a private business transaction between the union and those who wish to join the union.

FLORIDA

The Florida Legislature advanced a significant number of education reform bills in January: