ESSA/STAAR: What gives?
Five years ago when I began teaching, I started noticing how education loves acronyms. I still don't know what everyone means, but I do know what STAAR means and now I know about ESSA.
Created by the Obama Administration in 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act replaced No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The ESSA requires states and districts to ensure that all students, including children with disabilities, English learners, and other historically underserved groups, graduate high school ready for college or a career (U.S. Department of Education, 2016). To measure progress against that goal and maintain a critical focus on educational equity and excellence for all, the law maintains the requirement that states administer to all students annual statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8 and once in high school, as well as assessments once in each grade span in science for all students and annual English language proficiency assessments in grades K-12 for all English learners. The law also includes important protections to ensure that all students are tested, offered appropriate accommodations when needed, and held to the same high standards (U.S. Department of Education, 2016).
What this means, is that states now have more control of how standardized tests are administered. In 2018, Texas adopted the A-F Accountability System to make it easier for parents to understand their child's district performance. Schools and districts will be graded in three categories: student achievement, student progress and closing the gaps (Swaby, 2018).
However, earlier this year 120 Texas school districts across the state sued the Texas Education Agency over a change in the ratings method that would require high schools to prove that a significantly higher number of students were pursuing a career after graduating (Lopez, 2024). Because of this, Texas schools accountability ratings have been in limbo for the past two years. The release of the ratings, which help inform families and educators about their schools’ performance, won’t be released until the case is resolved (Lopez, 2024).
An F rating for school districts is like a death sentence. Getting an F could lead parents to leave the district, which would mean receiving less money from the state since school funding is based on student attendance. In a worst case scenario, school districts with too many failing grades in a row face the threat of a state takeover — just like it happened at the Houston Independent School District last summer (Lopez, 2024).
This is all coming after schools were shut down in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic, and some had online learning in 2021.
State testing data released in June shows students’ math and science scores slipped as they struggle to catch up after the pandemic. Texas elementary students who took the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam this spring saw striking drops in science comprehension. Only 26% of fifth graders this year met science grade-level standards, or concepts students in that grade are expected to understand, a steep decline of 21 percentage points from 2019. In math, Texas students lost ground after two years of modest post-pandemic gains. About 41% of students demonstrated an adequate understanding of math on their tests, with declines across grades compared to last year (Dey, 2024).
For high school students, it was algebra scores that were reported as low since the pandemic (Dey, 2024).
The STAAR exam requires students from third through eighth grade to test in math and reading. In addition, fifth-graders are tested in science and eighth-graders in science and social studies. The STAAR end-of-course tests evaluate high-schoolers in five subjects: Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II and U.S. History.
Politics and education
Pros and Cons
List of the Pros of the Every Student Succeeds Act
1. It continues to advance equity within the K-12 public school population.
2. The ESSA requires all students to be taught to high academic standards.
3. It provides a vehicle for better communication between schools and parents.
4. This legislation helps to promote local innovative methods.
5. It expands the investments made into preschools in the United States.
6. The ESSA maintains the same emphasis on accountability.
7. The federal government can still participate through grant stipulations.
8. It discourages the use of test results as a criterium for teacher performance.
List of the Cons of the Every Student Succeeds Act
1. It maintains the status quo in many areas where previous attempts already underperform.
2. There is no effort made to address the root causes of inequality.
3. It removed the stipulation for adequate yearly progress.
4. There are more ways to mask inequalities in the ESSA.
5. It does not stop the process of school closures in some communities.
6. When schools close because of the ESSA, it hurts vulnerable students the most.
7. It keeps the federal government on the sidelines.
(Gaille, 2019)
Hello Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI want to start off by saying that your blog is insightful and colorful. I, too, did not know that ESSA existed. In school professional developing I do not remember hearing about ESSA. Has it been highly advertised, as odd as that question sounds? In my experience, the No Child Left Behind law is the only thing I have heard talked about in education circles in San Antonio. I want to commend you on your information rich article. I was unaware that 120 schools sued Texas over the change in ratings. I thought there would be more, honestly. How did you feel about the introduction of AI and grading? There is an area for growth in this arena, in my opinion. But, yes, the limbo in ratings that you mentioned needs to be addressed first. Schools are unfortunately tied to these ratings and cannot move forward confidently without clarity. This is a good point and you explained it wonderfully. But politics always seem to get in the way of education, as you mentioned. Here's hoping that our great state of Texas shows us the way in the coming future. Loved the blog post!
April
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your detailed analysis of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its implications for Texas education. I agree with your statement: “ As teachers and educators, it is our job and responsibility to educate ourselves on these laws being put in place.” Your blog is colorful and with great graphics and images. Your writing is clear, and you effectively convey the complex landscape of educational policies and their real-world impacts. Your grammar is excellent, and your well-integrated citations look great.
Your discussion on the effects of the STAAR assessments and the accountability system in Texas is straight to the point and informative. The way you outlined the changes in state control and the subsequent legal battles provides a comprehensive view of the current situation.
In particular, I found your pros and cons list for ESSA helpful and well-explained. They provide a balanced view of the act’s strengths and weaknesses, helping readers understand the broader context of educational equity and accountability. Your mention of the significant drop in science comprehension and the struggles in math post-pandemic was very informative and highlighted the ongoing challenges our education system faces. Additionally, I liked how you brought attention to the political aspects influencing education, particularly the impact of decisions made by those who may not fully understand classroom dynamics.
I have a question: Considering these policies' significant impact on our educational system, what strategies do you think schools and educators could adopt to navigate better and potentially influence these legislative changes?
Overall, you have done an excellent job presenting a complex issue in an accessible and engaging manner. Keep up the great work!
Best regards,
Jessika L.