MARCELLINO ENCOURAGES PUBLIC INPUT ON ESSA

Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R, Syosset); Chairman of the Senate Education Committee announced today that the public comment period for New York State's Draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan is now open and statewide public hearings on the plan begin Thursday May 11th on Long Island. 

“This draft plan from SED is another step in the process to tackle problems in New York’s education system.  It continues a line of dialogue between SED, teachers, parents and educational experts all seeking a common goal.  I encourage as many people as possible to review the plan, attend the hearings and submit comments back to SED as they finalize the plan for Board of Regents approval,” said Senator Marcellino.

The first of ten public hearings will begin on Thursday May 11th from 6-8 pm at the Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills.  Interested parties can submit written comments and testimony on the plan at ESSAComments@nysed.gov.

According to an SED summary of the plan, ESSA includes many provisions that seek to ensure success for students and schools:

• Advances equity by upholding protections for disadvantaged and high-need students.

• Requires that all students be taught to high academic standards that will prepare students to succeed in college and careers, and that students be assessed on these standards annually to provide important information to educators, families, students, and communities.

• Maintains an expectation that there will be accountability, support, and action to create positive change in our lowest-performing schools in which groups of students are not making progress or in which graduation rates are low.

The draft plan, created by SED in consultation with stakeholders from across the education spectrum in New York State, meets requirements of the new federal education law, ESSA, which was enacted in December 2015.

Following the public comment period, SED review and alterations, the finalized plan will be voted on in September by the Board of Regents and then submitted to the US Education Department for approval. If approved, the measure would take effect in the 2018-19 school year.

“It is important to stress that this plan is a draft; a draft that can be improved and strengthened if parents, teachers and administrators review and make suggestions before the public comment period closes on June 16th.  Hopefully there will be a strong turnout at Thursday night’s presentation on Long Island,” concluded Senator Marcellino.

New York State's Draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan Summary has been posted at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/documents/draft-ny-essa-plan-summary-may-2017.pdIn addition, New York State's Draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan has been posted at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/documents/draft-ny-essa-plan-may-2017.pdf.