ESSA Task Force

SBOE ESSA Task Force Meeting Information

ESSA Task Force Members Announced - August 2017

Through our open and transparent process, we received a remarkable 55 applications from parents, community leaders, and education stakeholders across the District interested in serving on the task force. Members included parents, community leaders, education agency leaders, students, teachers, school leaders, and nonprofit personnel who work in relevant fields. Over the course of two years, subcommittees addressed school report cards, an access and opportunity measure, a high school growth measure, and school climate pilots. Task Force meetings continued on a monthly basis for the duration of the members’ two-year commitment. The task force conducted its work under the leadership of former Ward 4 representative Dr. Lannette Woodruff, from August 2017 through June 2018. SBOE Ward 7 representative Karen Williams led the task force from September 2018 through conclusion in June 2019.

Task Force Members

Name	Affiliation
Karen Williams	Ward 7 Representative, DC State Board of Education Chair, ESSA Task Force
Alex Rose-Henig	Director of Academic Programs, BASIS DC
Allyson Criner Brown	Ward 7 Education Council Member and Associate Director, Teaching for Change
Anne Herr	Parent and Director of School Quality, FOCUS
Beverly Lucas	Director of Continuing Education, University of the District of Columbia - Community College
Daniel Rodriguez	Student, Benjamin Banneker High School
Deborah Dantzler Williams	Head of School, Inspired Teaching PCS K-8
Donna Johnson	Director of Accountability, Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Elizabeth V. Primas	ESSA Program Manager, National Newspaper Publishers Association
Erin Kupferberg	Senior Manager, School Quality and Accountability, DC Public Charter School Board
Faith Gibson Hubbard	Chief Student Advocate, Office of the Student Advocate, DC State Board of Education
Hannah Dunn	Student, Woodrow Wilson High School
Jack Jacobson	Ward 2 Representative, DC State Board of Education
Jacque Patterson	Chief Community Engagement and Growth Officer, KIPP DC
Jhonna Turner	Parent Engagement Program Coordinator, Washington Lawyers' Committee
Joe Weedon	Parent, DC Public Schools
Josh Boots	Executive Director, EmpowerK12
Juliana Herman	Deputy Chief of Policy, DC Public Schools
Laura Fuchs	WTU Board Member and Teacher, H.D. Woodson High School
Maya Martin Cadogan	Executive Director, Parents Amplifying Voices in Education
Richard Pohlman	Executive Director, Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS
Samantha Brown	Special Education and Reading Teacher, Calvin Coolidge High School
Shana Young or designee	Chief of Staff, Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Sheila Strain Clark	Parent and Chief of Programs, Sasha Bruce Youthwork
Suzanne Wells	Founder, Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Tumeka Coleman	Teacher, Walker-Jones Education Campus
Yolanda Corbett	Co-Chair, Parent Advocate Leaders Group
Zachary Parker	Ward 5 Representative, DC State Board of Education

Former Members (August 2017 - July 2018)

Lannette Woodruff | Former Ward 4 Representative, DC State Board of Education
Ramona Edelin | Executive Director, DC Association of Chartered Public Schools
Donald L. Hense | Chairman, Friendship Public Charter Schools
Erica Hwang | Instructional Coach, DCPS

SBOE Announces ESSA Task Force Application - July 2017

To ensure a balance of perspectives, the State Board chose Task Force members who represent a broad constituency and will contribute meaningfully to education policy recommendations related to the 2017 DC ESSA Plan. Task Force members include parents, community leaders, education agency leaders, students, teachers, school leaders, and nonprofit personnel who work in relevant fields. The selection committee strived to ensure membership was proportionately representative to the backgrounds of the students here in the District.

In keeping with the SBOE’s commitment to transparency, all applications for the Task Force were open to public review:

SBOE opened application period on July 10, 2017
Application period concluded at 12 noon on July 24, 2017
SBOE Educational Excellence and Equity Committee reviewed all applications over a two-week period
Selected members announced on August 7, 2017

SBOE Approves Creation of ESSA Task Force - May 2017

At our May Public Meeting, the SBOE approved the creation of a new #ESSA Task Force which will advise the State Board for a two-year period . The SBOE is committed to continuing to involve broad community input in the decision making related to the Every Student Succeeds Act.

State Board will conduct community roundtables and focus groups to gather input on the remaining ESSA accountability plan measures, pilot studies, and school report cards from essential District education stakeholders.
Next step is development of a comprehensive school report card.
Goal is to approve a report card that ensures that parents no longer have to search for essential information across multiple websites
SBOE will also work with the Mayor and Council to ensure that these report cards are accessible (508 compliant) and translated into all of the languages required by the Language Access Act

SBOE Approves Final ESSA Accountability Plan - March 22, 2017

On March 22, 2017, the DC State Board of Education (SBOE) voted to approve the final state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The state plan, drafted by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) with significant impact from the State Board of Education, gives the District more flexibility in advancing educational excellence and provides assistance to schools so that each student has the opportunity for success.

SBOE's work was instrumental in achieving this reduction in assessment focus.
As a direct result of the State Board’s advocacy, plan more heavily weights student growth over proficiency
Plan also provides a foundation to ensure schools are safe and welcoming and that schools provide students with a well-rounded education by committing to pilot a common school climate survey and additional measures for inclusion
SBOE will continue to work with OSSE to implement the plan and develop additional metrics related to a well-rounded education, high school growth, and school climate

OSSE Releases Final Draft of State Plan - March 17, 2017

On March 17, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education released the final version of the complete draft state plan. The full version can be read here. On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, the State Board will hold a special public meeting at 5:30 pm in the Old Council Chambers at 441 4th Street NW. The State Board will vote on the approval of the final draft state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The State Board Makes 10 Recommendations for Final Accountability Plan

Read the recommendations here.

Recommendations reflect the consensus of the SBOE that weight of test scores should be reduced and additional non-testing measures that encourage a well-rounded education be added
Recommend establishment of task forces on School Climate/Well-Rounded Education and High School Growth Measures for inclusion in the accountability plan by April 2018
SBOE agrees with OSSE that accountability system be reviewed regularly to ensure that the system is providing the information our residents need, by joint process between OSSE and SBOE