The following notification is provided with the intent of soliciting input into the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) proposal to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) seeking flexibility in implementing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  

Listed below are three principles which our proposal must address.  The “ESEA Flexibility Policy Document”? explains these principles and also lists the flexibility available to Pennsylvania and its LEAs once our application for flexibility is approved. The “ESEA Flexibility Policy Document”? can be found at   http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.html.

During the past several years, these principles have been pursued by Pennsylvania education leaders. The State Board of Education’s adoption of the Pennsylvania Common Core State Standards and Keystone Exams demonstrate adherence to Principle 1. Our work on the PA School Performance Profile creates an excellent foundation for a new accountability system under Principle 2. Principle 3 requirements are met with the implementation of our Educator Effectiveness initiative.  

Although there have already been opportunities for input into Pennsylvania’s approach to standards and assessments, school performance profile and educator effectiveness rubrics and multiple measures, we are once again requesting, in accordance with guidance from USDE, that if you have input you believe should be considered relative to the principles noted below and/or on implementing the allowed flexibility identified in the above-referenced policy document, please send your thoughts to RA-NCLB_Flex@pa.gov no later than February 21, 2013.

REQUIRED ELEMENTS

Principle 1:  College- and Career-Ready Expectations for All Students                          
1.A       Adopt college-and career-ready standards         
1.B       Transition to college- and career-ready standards         
1.C       Develop and administer annual, statewide, aligned, high-quality assessments that measure student growth               

Principle 2:  State-Developed Differentiated Recognition, Accountabilit, and Support                  
2.A       Develop and implement a State-based system of differentiated recognition, accountability and support      
2.B       Set ambitious but achievable annual measurable objectives                 
2.C       Reward schools                
2.D       Priority schools                
2.E       Focus schools       
2.F       Provide incentives and supports for other Title I schools           
2.G       Build SEA, LEA, and school capacity to improve student learning          

Principle 3:  Supporting Effective Instruction and Leadership                            
3.A       Develop and adopt guidelines for local teacher and principal evaluation and support systems           
3.B       Ensure LEAs implement teacher and principal evaluation and support systems