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ESSA Accountability Regulations Eliminated

In last week's E-Blast, we featured the upcoming U.S. Senate vote on measures that would eliminate accountability provisions and teacher preparation regulations under the U.S. Department of Education’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). On March 9, the Senate solidified its decision to block the accountability rules in a 50-49 vote.

So, what does this mean for states?

Most importantly, states now have reduced reporting requirements and greater flexibility around what partners to engage when developing their consolidated state plan. Under the Obama-era ESSA regulations, states were given a list of required stakeholders to engage in the planning process, including school districts, civil rights groups, and institutes of higher education. As described in Education Week, the recent Senate vote eliminates this requirement, allowing states to engage with any entity they consider essential to the plan formation.

In a statement released on Monday, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said, "I trust local school leaders to do what’s right for the children they serve.” Many Democrats and education officials, on the other hand, advocated for the previous Obama-era accountability regulations. Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the education committee, said in defense of the previous accountability regulations, "This rule provides clarity on accountability, on reporting requirements, and on state plan requirements. And it helps ensure that no student, no matter where they live, can fall through those cracks.”

Despite the recent vote, many states have already completed the work to comply with the Obama-era regulations and are set to turn in their plans in the coming weeks.