The Every Student Succeeds Act is supposed to be a brave new world when it comes to school improvement. States and districts will now get to decide what to do about perennially struggling schools, and schools where certain groups of students, like English-language learners, aren鈥檛 doing well.
So now that states have all this newfound freedom, what are they deciding to do with it? We looked at the school improvement portions of the 17 ESSA plans that have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for approval. Want to jump to details on a particular state? Click on it in the menu below:
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
We鈥檝e also identified some takeaways from the improvement plans. Click here to check out those takeaways. Here鈥檚 a big one: Many states don鈥檛 seem particularly interested in changing what they鈥檙e doing right now.
Want a couple of key trends in chart form? Check out those charts below:
Finally, if you need a refresher or quick primer on the two types of schools all this stuff applies to鈥攃omprehensive improvement schools, and targeted support schools鈥�click here to read up on those definitions.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The Arizona education department says it would work with local districts on identifying 鈥渆vidence-based鈥� school improvement strategies. Arizona also wants to use its five regional education centers, the Arizona State Board for Charter 69传媒, and the Arizona Charter 69传媒 Association to help identify improvement strategies.
What if that fails? Under Arizona鈥檚 plan, schools would be subject to a more in-depth needs assessment by the state that would help identify and monitor new improvement plans.
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school could exit comprehensive improvement status if it no longer met identification criteria, and if its grade on the state A-F accountability system is no longer in the bottom 5 percent of Title I schools. A school could exit targeted support status if it no longer met identification criteria, and would be expected to shed that label in a four-year window.
Spending plan: The state doesn鈥檛 appear to set aside any specific grants to districts or schools for improvement work. As part of ESSA鈥檚 required resource review, the state does say the department would check to see if districts are 鈥減roviding adequate additional resources鈥� for schools needing improvement. The state would also help schools with budgeting.
Does the state require specific interventions? No. (At least, not at first.)
Interventions: The state would require the 10 lowest-performing districts to choose improvement plans for their low-performing schools from state guidance on 鈥渆vidence-based interventions.鈥� This intervention guidance would cover academic, school climate, early learning, and other areas. This guidance would be published in October 2017. Other districts would have more flexibility in their improvement strategies.
What if that fails? 69传媒 that fail to improve under that strategy would be subject to mandatory training, as well as state-recommended (and eventually state-required) improvement strategies.
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school could exit comprehensive or targeted status if it no longer meets identification criteria for two straight years after being identified as such. 69传媒 must also hit certain growth targets.
Spending plan: The state would distribute grants to the 10 lowest-performing districts, with $500,000 for each comprehensive support school and $50,000 for each targeted-support school. These grants would cover 70 percent of Connecticut鈥檚 federal funding earmarked for school improvement. For the remaining 30 percent, the state would offer competitive grants, with $500,000 for each comprehensive support school and $50,000 for each targeted-support school.
The above plan assumes a certain level of federal dollars for school improvement. If that funding fell short, the state would provide competitive grants to both types of schools, with other limitations.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: Colorado would put together a list of evidence-based interventions, strategies, and partnerships that can offer support to the range of needs in identified schools. However, schools would not be required to use any particular intervention from that list.
What if that fails? Districts would have to take additional action. The department says possible options include closing a school, converting it into a charter school, or granting the school a local or state waiver.
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school could shed the comprehensive-improvement label if it improves sufficiently after those three years, although it would keep that label for at least three years. A school identified for targeted support could shed the label if it improves sufficiently after three years.
Spending plan: Colorado would distribute school improvement grants to states. The state wouldn鈥檛 attach dollar amounts to the grants, but does say that there would be more grant money set aside for comprehensive support schools than targeted support schools.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The state would work with districts and schools identified for improvement to conduct a 鈥渘eeds assessment鈥� and monitor improvement plans. This work would include identifying previous school improvement strategies and why they might not have worked.
What if that fails? The state would work with the district to do both a qualitative and quantitative analysis of why a school did not exit improvement status after the allotted time.
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school could shed its comprehensive or targeted status if it no longer meets identification criteria. However, the state would also negotiate with districts to set exit targets for schools.
Spending plan: The state plans to provide $2.4 million in formula grants for schools needing comprehensive support, and will allow districts to apply for an additional $600,000 to $700,000 on a competitive basis for improvement work. Delaware says it doesn鈥檛 anticipate having enough federal money for school improvement to fund work at targeted support schools.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The District plans to share evidence-based improvement strategies with schools, including material from the 鈥淲hat Works Clearinghouse鈥� from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as strategies from the Massachusetts education department.
What if that fails? There would be a 鈥渟tate-directed鈥� process, in which the state office of education would seek out proposals for improving the schools. Parents and other stakeholders would also get the chance to offer input. The proposals would have to be more rigorous than previous intervention strategies.
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school could exit comprehensive or targeted status if it no longer meets identification criteria. However, a comprehensive support school making significant progress would get an additional year to shed the label before 鈥渕ore rigorous鈥� action must be taken.
Spending plan: The District plans to administer school improvement grants based on either a formula or competitive basis.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: 69传媒 would select external organizations to aid them in school improvement through the state鈥檚 鈥淚L-EMPOWER鈥� network. 69传媒 and its IL-EMPOWER groups would conduct an audit and set targets that the external group will then monitor. Targets for school improvement would have to focus on at least one of the following: governance and management, curriculum and instruction, and climate and culture.
What if that fails? The state would provide resources for 鈥渆vidence-based鈥� improvement to districts. However, a school identified for comprehensive improvement, as well as schools that fail to improve after a specific time period, would have to partner with an 鈥淚L-EMPOWER鈥� organization, which would have to demonstrate a track record of school improvement work.
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school could shed needs-improvement status if it no longer meets identification criteria. However, in order to shed the label, a school would have to establish 鈥渁 growth trajectory for students, including those at the highest and lowest levels of attainment.鈥� A school would also have to show how it would maintain that growth.
Spending plan: Illinois would use part of its federal funding for school improvement to develop a formula for handing out money for comprehensive and targeted support schools. It would also use that money to design an approval process for external IL-EMPOWER organizations.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The state would work with districts to develop plans for school improvement. There would also be an analysis of each student subgroup鈥檚 needs at individual schools.
What if that fails? The state鈥檚 existing Recovery School District would evaluate chronically underperforming schools to 鈥渄etermine the strongest path to successful intervention in each context.鈥�
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school could shed the comprehensive improvement label if it achieves at least a C grade on the state鈥檚 accountability system for two consecutive years. A school could shed the targeted support label if all subgroups are scoring above an F grade on the state鈥檚 accountability, and also has an out-of-school suspension rate that is above needs-improvement status for two consecutive years.
Spending plan: The state would award a 鈥渟ignificant鈥� portion of federal funding for state school improvement activities to competitive grants to districts. Each district with at least one school needing comprehensive improvement would have to submit a plan for intervening in and improving all such schools they oversee.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: All of Maine鈥檚 districts have access to regional support networks, which help superintendents swap ideas. And the state鈥檚 lowest-performing schools鈥攖hose in comprehensive support鈥攚ould get extra financial resources and face-to-face coaches and mentors from the state. 69传媒 would have to develop a school improvement plan that considers factors such as school climate and time for teacher collaboration.
What if that fails? If a school fails to improve after three years, the state would go deeper on similar strategies, including more coaching and extra financial resources.
How do schools escape low-performing status?? Maine would develop its exit criteria once it has student performance data.
Spending plan: School improvement grants would be as small $50,000 for targeted improvement schools, or as big as $400,000 over three years for comprehensive improvement.
Does the state require specific interventions? Yes.
Interventions: The state would largely stick with the school improvement process it used under the Obama administration鈥檚 School Improvement Grant program. At the center of that approach: support for districts with low-performing schools, both through 鈥渞egional centers鈥� and a cadre of 鈥渃ommissioner鈥檚 districts鈥� made up the state鈥檚 10 largest urban districts, which are home to most of the state鈥檚 struggling schools. Individual low-performing schools would get coaching from the state, professional development opportunities, access to research on what鈥檚 worked for successful turnaround schools, and help with data analysis. The state would also have a list of approved turnaround partners with a track record of success.
What if that fails? 69传媒 and even entire districts that perennially struggle would be subject to state takeover.
How do schools escape low-performing status? The state plans to figure out this out when it has new student achievement data.
Spending Plan: The state would distribute school improvement funds competitively to struggling schools, but would distribute some grants by formula if there鈥檚 enough money available.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The state would enter into 鈥減artnership鈥� agreements with districts that have low-performing schools and help them do needs assessments, and set both 18 month and three-year goals. The state would designate an 鈥渋mplementation facilitator鈥� to help districts with low-performing schools implement their plans. Michigan would also come up with a list of 鈥渆vidence-based interventions鈥� for schools to choose from.
What if that fails? 69传媒 not improving would be considered in 鈥渂reach of plan.鈥� The state and the school would determine what that would mean when the plan is initially written.
How do schools escape low-performing status? The state is still finalizing that.
Spending plan: Not specified.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The lowest-performing schools would need to come up with an improvement plan that includes a focus on resource inequities and ideas for how the school and district will fix them. The state would take charge of monitoring the plan鈥檚 implementation and providing support to the school and district. In addition, up to six schools could be considered for inclusion in the state鈥檚 new Achievement School District, in which schools would be paired with outside turnaround partners or transformation teams. The state would also come up with a list of evidence-based interventions for schools to choose from.
What if that fails? 69传媒 that perennially struggle could become part of the Achievement School District.
How do schools get out of low-performing status? 69传媒 are considered out of low-performing status if they no longer meet the exit criteria.
Spending Plan: The state will give out competitive grants to districts with low-performing schools.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The lowest-performing schools would get help from the state in turnaround planning, identifying evidence-based interventions, and more. The state would have a dedicated website for school improvement, including identifications of evidence-based practices and interventions.
What if that fails? 69传媒 not making progress within two years would be subject to intensive data review by the state and could be paired with an outside turnaround partner. The commissioner could also intervene by reworking teachers鈥� collective-bargaining agreements, directing staff retraining or assignment, revamping curriculum and programs, shifting expenses, and more.
How do schools escape low-performing status? 69传媒 could get out of comprehensive and targeted improvement status when they no longer meet the law鈥檚 requirements.
Spending plan: School improvement money would be allocated using formula and/or competitive grants.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: Districts with really low-performing schools have to choose from a menu of turnaround strategies developed by the state, such as going through the state鈥檚 principal training, or working with the state on a high school overhaul plan. The state will provide a list of turnaround programs and partners with a strong level of evidence behind them. If a school decides to choose a partner that鈥檚 not on the list, it will have to show how its approach will work.
What if that fails? 69传媒 would be subject to more dramatic interventions, including closing down, restarting as a charter, offering broad school choice, or another significant revamp.
How do schools escape low-performing status? 69传媒 in New Mexico get out of 鈥渃omprehensive improvement鈥� status when they no longer meet the requirements in ESSA and improve any group of students鈥� performance beyond the lowest levels in the state. 69传媒 can get out of targeted improvement when they meet certain requirements for closing achievement gaps.
Spending plan: The state will distribute school improvement funds through competitive grants. The amount will depend on the number of schools identified.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: North Dakota plans to use a continuous improvement system from AdvanceED (a nonprofit group) with all of its schools, whether or not they are flagged for comprehensive improvement. The state is also partnering with the School Improvement Network, which would offer extra supports to the lowest-performing schools, including turnaround managers and coaches. Those schools could choose their own model instead of going with the one suggested by the state, but it would need to be 鈥渁t least as rigorous鈥� as the state鈥檚 suggestions.
What if that fails? The state would ask the school and district to rework the improvement plan.
How do schools escape low-performing status? 69传媒 would get out of comprehensive or targeted status if they no longer met the requirement for those categories and if they were hitting their short-term goals.
Spending plan: 69传媒 in comprehensive improvement would be eligible for grants between $300,000 and $400,000. 69传媒 in targeted support could get grants of up to $50,000.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: Districts, especially those with more than one very low-performing school, would get help from the state in doing a 鈥渘eeds assessment鈥� required by ESSA. The state will also provide assistance in writing turnaround plans, with an eye toward making sure the local community gets a voice. The state would also provide districts with resources including technical assistance, with an emphasis on equity, and coaching.
What if that fails? If a school failed to make sufficient progress, the state could give it more direction on how to spend money, provide extra coaching, require the staff to participate in 鈥渃ollaborative problem solving,鈥� and more.
How do schools escape low-performing status? A school would no longer be considered as needing targeted or comprehensive support if it isn鈥檛 identified again in August 2021, among other factors.
Spending plan: The state would give funding priority to districts that agree to reach out to the school community and use evidence-based turnaround programs.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: The state鈥檚 lowest-performing schools could be included in the state鈥檚 achievement school district. Districts with a high number of low-performing schools may end up jointly operating them with the state. Other districts may operate an innovation zone, or district within a district, made up of their lowest-performing schools. The state would also be putting out resources for schools with big achievement gaps.
What if that fails? If a school failed to improve, it could be subject to a more-rigorous intervention, including possible inclusion in the state鈥檚 Achievement School District. (The plan lays out a timetable.)
How do schools escape low-performing status? 69传媒 would have to no longer meet the criteria to be a targeted or comprehensive school, and meet certain growth targets.
Spending Plan: The school improvement grants would flow both by formula and competitively.
Does the state require specific interventions? No.
Interventions: Vermont would use a school inspection process to do in-depth reviews of schools鈥� strengths and weaknesses. It would use this process to help inform improvement plans for all schools, with a particular focus on those that are struggling.
What if that fails? The state would continue technical assistance, reshape the governance structure, let the state step in and address problems, or close the school and send the students to another public school.
How do schools get out of low-performing status? 69传媒 could get out of 鈥渃omprehensive improvement鈥� if their annual performance improved by two levels or their performance has improved by one level and if they made major gains overtime. A school could exit 鈥渢argeted鈥� improvement once it moved from the lowest levels on the state鈥檚 plan.
Spending plan: The grants would be distributed competitively.
So What Are Common Themes in the Plans?
Remember how ESSA鈥檚 architects said the law would unleash a 鈥渇lood of innovation鈥�? As we indicated above, the school improvement portions of many state plans are based on ideas that are already in place, at least for now.
Tennessee, for instance, is sticking with its Achievement School District and its 鈥渋Zones鈥� or innovation zones in particular districts. And Massachusetts is keeping its accountability system in place.
Also, the plans don鈥檛 reveal everything you might want to see. States explained how they planned to guide and support districts in developing school improvement plans, but they didn鈥檛 get into the nitty-gritty of what those plans would actually look like.
The School Improvement Grant program, which the Obama administration poured billions of dollars into and got mixed results, was criticized for ignoring the critical role districts play. Partly in response to that, ESSA beefed up the district role in turnarounds. And in general, states aren鈥檛 telling their districts what kinds of changes they need to make in low-performing schools.
Here鈥檚 another way to put it:
OUT: Requirements that schools get rid of their principals and half the teachers.
IN: Promises to help districts develop a 鈥渘eeds assessment鈥� for their lowest-performing schools, and provide schools with coaching on implementation.
To be sure, some states offered more specificity than others. Oregon, for instance, gave a lot of detail on how it would ensure that schools make sure community members are out the table when it comes to crafting turnaround plans.
And by one count, nine states are coming up with a list of approved interventions that they think offer strong strategies for fixing schools. That鈥檚 according to a forthcoming analysis by Results for America鈥檚 Evidence in Education Lab. Those states are: Colorado, Connecticut, Ilinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Vermont.
At least two of those states鈥擬assachusetts and Illinois鈥攚ill essentially require districts to use one of the approved interventions or partners. Others, such as New Mexico, say districts can come up with their own solutions, but the evidence backing up their approaches has to be at least as rigorous as what鈥檚 behind the state-approved ideas.
Results for America found that at least six states committed in their plans to running some sort of competition for doling out state school improvement cash: Tennessee, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Mexico. Vermont also appears likely to allocate its dollars competitively, according to our reading of the plans, although states didn鈥檛 have to spell this out in their plans.
Two Types of 69传媒 Identified for Improvement
If you need it, here鈥檚 a quick refresher or category of the two types of schools states must tag as low-performing.
Comprehensive Improvement: 69传媒 that fall into the bottom 5 percent of performers in the state, schools where graduation rates are below 67 percent, and schools where subgroups of students are seriously struggling are identified as needing 鈥渃omprehensive鈥� support. Districts have to come up with a plan to fix those schools, monitored by the state. The district can pick any kind of turnaround plan it wants, but that plan must be backed by evidence. If the school fails to improve after a certain number of years (no more than four), the state steps in.
Targeted Support: 69传媒 where subgroups of students鈥攍ike English-learners, minorities, poor kids, and students in special education鈥攁ren鈥檛 performing well are placed in 鈥渢argeted support.鈥� The school comes up with an evidence-based plan to solve the problem. If the school continues to struggle, the district steps in.
Video: ESSA Explained in 3 Minutes
