Education Commission of the States

Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 1200 • Denver, CO 80203-3460 • 303.299.3600 • Fax: 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
Summary of Recommendations
NCLB Reauthorization

To better inform the national debate on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization, ECS collected and synthesized recommendations by national organizations to improve the federal law.

ECS' database is organized around 16 issue areas that captured most recommendations. Some organizations did not offer recommendations for all issues, at least according to our analysis. And several recommendations appear more than once since they applied to multiple issue areas.

The summary of the Council of Chief State School Officers' (CCSSO) original recommendations are listed in this report. Please see the main database page for additional reports.

Highlights
Issues addressed: 10 of 16
Adequate Yearly Progress; Assessment, Standards and Curriculum; Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development; Consequences and Interventions; English Language Learners; Finance; Students with Disabilities; Supplemental Education Services; Teaching Quality; and Miscellaneous/Overarching.

Issues not addressed: 6 of 16
Data Systems and Reporting; Early Childhood; High Schools; Other Programs; Safe Schools; and School Leadership.

Areas of emphasis:
Adequate Yearly Progress; and Assessment, Standards and Curriculum.

Source:
Recommendations to Reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (January 2007)

Visit ECS' Database on NCLB Reauthorization main page for more information, explanations and access to organizations' original reports. Please note that ECS plans to expand the database as more information becomes available.

Database Last Updated: July 2007

This database was created and compiled by Mary Fulton, ECS policy analyst.
For questions and comments: 303.299.3679 or mfulton@ecs.org

NCLB Reauthorization : Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

AYP 1 - Summary of Recommendation Encourage use of various accountability models focused on individual student achievement to promote more valid and meaningful determinations.

AYP 2 - Summary of Recommendation Allow states to use growth models to complement status measures for AYP.

AYP 3 - Summary of Recommendation Allow states to use additional school performance data to differentiate AYP determinations and consequences.

AYP 4 - Summary of Recommendation Include students with disabilities in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound goals and measures.

AYP 5 - Summary of Recommendation Continue to count students with disabilities' performance in that AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.

AYP 6 - Summary of Recommendation Include ELL students in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound measures and goals.

AYP 7 - Summary of Recommendation Allow states to include new immigrant ELL students in school accountability based on multiple measures for at least 3 years.

AYP 8 - Summary of Recommendation Allow full range of alternate assessments and value individualized growth of ELL students.

AYP 9 - Summary of Recommendation Continue to count ELL student performance in this AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.

Assessment, Standards and Curriculum (ASC)

ASC 1 - Summary of Recommendation Encourage variety of state and local assessment models to improve teaching and learning and promote better accountability.

ASC 2 - Summary of Recommendation Permit use of multiple state and local assessments and allow states to vary frequency and grade spans of assessments.

ASC 3 - Summary of Recommendation Provide continued support for states to strengthen assessment systems.

ASC 4 - Summary of Recommendation Include students with disabilities in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound goals and measures.

ASC 5 - Summary of Recommendation Permit alternate assessments measured against alternate/modified standards based on individualized growth expectations for students with disabilities.

ASC 6 - Summary of Recommendation Include ELL students in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound measures and goals.

ASC 7 - Summary of Recommendation Allow full range of alternate assessments and value individualized growth of ELL students.

Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)

CIRD 1 - Summary of Recommendation Encourage innovation and improve peer review process to focus on knowledge enhancement and promoting sound education models.

CIRD 2 - Summary of Recommendation Require Secretary to approve innovative models where states can demonstrate sound strategies to raise student achievement and close achievement gaps.

CIRD 3 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure NCLB funding levels reflect increased state roles and responsibilities to improve student achievement and close achievement gaps.

CIRD 4 - Summary of Recommendation Provide additional and ongoing funding for state interventions in underperforming districts and schools, including for assessments and data systems.

Consequences and Interventions (CI)

CI 1 - Summary of Recommendation Allow range of and differentiate rewards/consequences based on degree to which schools/districts miss AYP.

CI 2 - Summary of Recommendation Allow states to differentiate AYP consequences, target assistance to lowest performing students/subgroups and not to escalate consequences if schools making progress.

CI 3 - Summary of Recommendation Increase SES offerings by districts and to parents, permit states to change order of consequences (choice and SES) and target SES based on academic need.

Data Systems and Reporting (DSR)

DSR 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

ECE 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

English Language Learners (ELL)

ELL 1 - Summary of Recommendation Include ELL students in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound measures and goals.

ELL 2 - Summary of Recommendation Allow states to include new immigrant ELL students in school accountability based on multiple measures for at least 3 years.

ELL 3 - Summary of Recommendation Allow full range of alternate assessments and value individualized growth of ELL students.

ELL 4 - Summary of Recommendation Continue to count ELL student performance in this AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.

Funding Issues (FI)

FI 1 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure NCLB funding levels reflect increased state roles and responsibilities to improve student achievement and close achievement gaps.

FI 2 - Summary of Recommendation Provide additional and ongoing funding for state interventions in underperforming districts and schools, including for assessments and data systems.

High Schools (HS)

HS 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Other Programs (OP)

OP 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Safe Schools (SS)

SS 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

School Leadership (SL)

SL 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Students with Disabilities (SWD)

SWD 1 - Summary of Recommendation Include students with disabilities in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound goals and measures.

SWD 2 - Summary of Recommendation Permit alternate assessments measured against alternate/modified standards based on individualized growth expectations for students with disabilities.

SWD 3 - Summary of Recommendation Continue to count students with disabilities' performance in that AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.

Supplemental Education Services (SES)

SES 1 - Summary of Recommendation Expand SES offerings by districts and to parents, permit states to change order of consequences (choice and SES) and target SES based on academic need.

Teaching Quality (TQ)

TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Continuously improve teaching force through high quality professional development and multiple pathways to teaching expertise.

TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Count newly hired teachers as “highly qualified” when meet primary subject standards and on track to meet state HOUSSE requirements.

TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Count teachers of students with disabilities and ELL students as “highly qualified” if they work with qualified teachers, and offer multiple paths to and measures of subject expertise.

TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Provide incentives for teacher performance systems based on student growth and successful teachers to serve in challenging schools.

Miscellaneous/Overarching (Misc.)

Misc. 1 - Summary of Recommendation
CCSSO’s goal for NCLB reauthorization is to prepare every child for postsecondary education, work and citizenship. Broad recommendations include:

Increased state and local support and autonomy for standards, assessments, accountability, teacher quality and data systems.

Building state and local capacity to improve low-performing districts and schools

Increased investment in research, innovation, technical assistance and collaboration to inform standards-based reforms.

Misc. 2 - Summary of Recommendation Require peer review process for NCLB decisions to focus on technical assistance, full transparency, communication with states, consistency and timeliness.

© 2008 by the Education Commission of the States (ECS). All rights reserved. ECS is a nonprofit interstate compact that helps state leaders shape education policy.

To request permission to excerpt part of this publication, either in print or electronically, please fax a request to the attention of the ECS Communications Department, 303.296.8332 or e-mail ecs@ecs.org.

Helping State Leaders Shape Education Policy

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
AYP 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Encourage use of various accountability models focused on individual student achievement to promote more valid and meaningful determinations.
AYP 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow states to use growth models to complement status measures for AYP.
AYP 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow states to use additional school performance data to differentiate AYP determinations and consequences.
AYP 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Include students with disabilities in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound goals and measures.
AYP 5 - Summary of Recommendation	Continue to count students with disabilities' performance in that AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.
AYP 6 - Summary of Recommendation	Include ELL students in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound measures and goals.
AYP 7 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow states to include new immigrant ELL students in school accountability based on multiple measures for at least 3 years.
AYP 8 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow full range of alternate assessments and value individualized growth of ELL students.
AYP 9 - Summary of Recommendation	Continue to count ELL student performance in this AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.
Assessment, Standards and Curriculum (ASC)
ASC 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Encourage variety of state and local assessment models to improve teaching and learning and promote better accountability.
ASC 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Permit use of multiple state and local assessments and allow states to vary frequency and grade spans of assessments.
ASC 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Provide continued support for states to strengthen assessment systems.
ASC 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Include students with disabilities in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound goals and measures.
ASC 5 - Summary of Recommendation	Permit alternate assessments measured against alternate/modified standards based on individualized growth expectations for students with disabilities.
ASC 6 - Summary of Recommendation	Include ELL students in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound measures and goals.
ASC 7 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow full range of alternate assessments and value individualized growth of ELL students.
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
CIRD 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Encourage innovation and improve peer review process to focus on knowledge enhancement and promoting sound education models.
CIRD 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Require Secretary to approve innovative models where states can demonstrate sound strategies to raise student achievement and close achievement gaps.
CIRD 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure NCLB funding levels reflect increased state roles and responsibilities to improve student achievement and close achievement gaps.
CIRD 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Provide additional and ongoing funding for state interventions in underperforming districts and schools, including for assessments and data systems.
Consequences and Interventions (CI)
CI 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow range of and differentiate rewards/consequences based on degree to which schools/districts miss AYP.
CI 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow states to differentiate AYP consequences, target assistance to lowest performing students/subgroups and not to escalate consequences if schools making progress.
CI 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Increase SES offerings by districts and to parents, permit states to change order of consequences (choice and SES) and target SES based on academic need.
Data Systems and Reporting (DSR)
DSR 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Early Childhood Education (ECE)
ECE 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
English Language Learners (ELL)
ELL 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Include ELL students in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound measures and goals.
ELL 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow states to include new immigrant ELL students in school accountability based on multiple measures for at least 3 years.
ELL 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow full range of alternate assessments and value individualized growth of ELL students.
ELL 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Continue to count ELL student performance in this AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.
Funding Issues (FI)
FI 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure NCLB funding levels reflect increased state roles and responsibilities to improve student achievement and close achievement gaps.
FI 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Provide additional and ongoing funding for state interventions in underperforming districts and schools, including for assessments and data systems.
High Schools (HS)
HS 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Other Programs (OP)
OP 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Safe Schools (SS)
SS 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
School Leadership (SL)
SL 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Students with Disabilities (SWD)
SWD 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Include students with disabilities in state assessment and accountability systems based on ambitious but educationally sound goals and measures.
SWD 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Permit alternate assessments measured against alternate/modified standards based on individualized growth expectations for students with disabilities.
SWD 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Continue to count students with disabilities' performance in that AYP subgroup for appropriate period once they transfer out.
Supplemental Education Services (SES)
SES 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Expand SES offerings by districts and to parents, permit states to change order of consequences (choice and SES) and target SES based on academic need.
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Continuously improve teaching force through high quality professional development and multiple pathways to teaching expertise.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Count newly hired teachers as “highly qualified” when meet primary subject standards and on track to meet state HOUSSE requirements.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Count teachers of students with disabilities and ELL students as “highly qualified” if they work with qualified teachers, and offer multiple paths to and measures of subject expertise.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Provide incentives for teacher performance systems based on student growth and successful teachers to serve in challenging schools.
Miscellaneous/Overarching (Misc.)
Misc. 1 - Summary of Recommendation	CCSSO’s goal for NCLB reauthorization is to prepare every child for postsecondary education, work and citizenship. Broad recommendations include: Increased state and local support and autonomy for standards, assessments, accountability, teacher quality and data systems. Building state and local capacity to improve low-performing districts and schools Increased investment in research, innovation, technical assistance and collaboration to inform standards-based reforms.
Misc. 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Require peer review process for NCLB decisions to focus on technical assistance, full transparency, communication with states, consistency and timeliness.