Join the Fight to Support Title II Funding!
President Trump’s recent budget asked for a complete elimination of Title II, Part A funds for FY 2018 and to reduce by 50 percent the amount of funds appropriated for FY 2017. To combat these cuts and show the importance Title II plays in ensuring every child has access to high-quality teachers and school leaders, NASSP recently joined with other national organizations to send a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees asking for full funding for Title II. Lend your voice to the fight by participating in NASSP’s newest action alert opposing President Trump’s cuts and asking Congress to fully fund Title II, Part A!
Comment on NASSP’s Position Statement on Teacher Shortage
One of the most difficult tasks principals face is staffing their schools with effective teachers who can help every student achieve his or her greatest potential. Unfortunately, recent reports point to a growing teacher shortage nationwide. NASSP has released a new Teacher Shortage Position Statement to help address the problem and provide recommendations for policymakers and school leaders to help find new solutions.
The NASSP Board of Directors recently stated its intent to adopt this position statement and the 30-day public comment period is now open. If you would like to send a comment or recommendation on this statement, please contact Amanda Karhuse, NASSP Director of Advocacy, at [email protected] by Friday, April 28.
Inside the Beltway
What’s Happening in Washington?
April 3 marked the first day that allowed states to submit their ESSA plans to the Department of Education (ED). So far, nine states and the District of Columbia have submitted their plans to ED. They are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Vermont. ED has also provided an additional six states that planned on submitting early an extension to early May, so that their governors have time to review the plans before final submission.
Why Should Principals Care?
The first plan submissions will offer two valuable insights to states that are still in the process of developing their plans. First, we will get a chance to see how states are interpreting ESSA and how they plan to use the law to alter their education system. We’ll also learn which states will take advantage of new flexibility in the law, championed by NASSP, that allows states to reserve 3 percent of their Title II funds specifically for school leader activities. For example, Tennessee’s plan includes a new school accountability system that assigns more weight on minority student achievement and emphasis on progress of English learners, school improvement, and highly qualified educators. Tennessee would also use funding under ESSA for a Principal Pipeline Partnership Grant that will help develop and support a network of highly effective aspiring leaders. Additionally, we will learn the amount of scrutiny and control ED and the Trump administration will have over the process of reviewing and approving the plans.
In the Press
NASSP Supports Fully Funding Title II, Part A, EdWeek
NASSP joined the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Learning Forward, and New Leaders in writing a letter to the leadership of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations subcommittee to support fully funding Title II, Part A of ESSA. You can read about this effort as well as the original letter on EdWeek.
New Ways to Use Federal Funds Under ESSA, Chiefs for Change
Are you looking for different strategies to use federal funds to help your school? Chiefs for Change is out with a new report that highlights innovative new ways that education leaders can use federal funds under ESSA.
Examining State ESSA Plans, EdWeek
Now that ESSA plans are being submitted, you may be wondering how your state plan fits in the spectrum of other plans. EdWeek provides some questions to consider when examining these plans to help you better understand them overall.
Tennessee Will Use Title II Funds for a New Initiative to Develop Potential Principals, Chalkbeat
To help develop and train potential new principals, Tennessee has developed a new Principal Pipeline Partnership through the use of Title II funds. This new plan will underwrite partnerships among local districts, universities, and nonprofit organizations to further develop and improve training programs for potential principals.