White Paper: Maintaining a Focus on Subgroups in an Era of Elementary and Secondary Education Act Waivers

Campaign for High School Equity:

The Campaign for High School Equity raises serious questions about state accountability plans under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act waiver program of the U.S. Department of Education--including whether the use of "super subgroups" could lead to fewer students of color receiving the supports and interventions they need to succeed in school.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education announced that states agreeing to certain requirements would become eligible for waivers from core accountability provisions of the current version of the ESEA--the No Child Left Behind federal education law. The waivers allow those states to create systems of accountability and improvement that differ greatly from those required under NCLB. Forty-one states and the District of Columbia have received waivers.

CHSE's analysis shows the waivers could weaken efforts to highlight inequities, narrow achievement gaps, and improve education for all students. This raises questions as to whether or not struggling students will receive the support and services they desperately need and deserve.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 28, 2013 2:24 AM
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