As you are well aware, the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), does not provide principals and assistant principals with adequate support, training and resources but still holds them accountable for student achievement. Congress is now rapidly working to reauthorize ESEA, which presents a tremendous opportunity to elevate the role of principals in improving student achievement, and have their voices heard.

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) recently submitted detailed comments in response to legislation passed by the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the U.S. House of Representatives to reauthorize the law. The comments note many concerns with the bill, with one of the most important being its lack of acknowledgement and support for the vital role of principals, and providing them with the necessary professional support to ensure better teaching and improved learning for all students.

At a minimum, the Student Success Act of 2015 must the following top concerns:

• Clearly define the term “school leader” to mean principals and assistant principals working inside the school building, not non-building staff such as teacher leaders, superintendents and other district personnel;
• Require districts that receive Title II funding to allocate no less than 10 percent of the funds available for professional development for elementary, middle, and high school principals to improve instructional leadership;
• Require that state principal evaluation systems be designed in collaboration with practitioners, and ensure that they are based on more than just student test scores. We recommend that any principal evaluation focus on the six key domains of leadership responsibility within a principal’s sphere of influence: student growth and achievement, school planning and progress, school culture, stakeholder support and engagement, professional qualities and practices, and professional growth and learning;
• Oppose any and all efforts to transform Title I funding—which is designed to assist public schools with high concentrations of poverty and high-need students—into a private school voucher.

As a leader in your school and in your community, your voice is extremely powerful in this debate. H.R. 5 is on the House Floor the last week of February, and principals must take action to let your representatives in Congress know these concerns must be addressed. While a sample letter has been provided for you, we strongly urge you to personalize the letter where possible.

Click here to send a letter to your Congressional representative.