Governor Bentley Takes the Lead on Implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act

MONTGOMERY (Governor’s Office) – Following a momentous overhaul in education reform, Governor Robert Bentley is taking the lead on recent reauthorized federal education legislation known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Since the new law was signed on December 10, 2015, states have been diligently exploring the new requirements of the state plan. Gov. Bentley saw the provision of gubernatorial involvement and acted quickly by bringing stakeholders and education leaders to the table through Executive Order 16 to assist in the development of the plan.

“This is the greatest devolution of federal power in 50 years,” Governor Bentley said. “This is an incredible opportunity for states to take back ownership of our educational rights. As Governor, I am able to bring together teachers, superintendents, early childhood educators, business and industry. We need these leaders’ input as to what works best for our great state.”

The new law affords states the ability to keep the decision-making process at the local level. ESSA permits the Alabama State Department of Education to distribute Title I funds while allowing the local school systems to determine the methodology used to allocate those dollars. Additionally, ESSA provides $500 million annually for the use of improving low-performing schools and permitting districts to create their own progress plan.

With flexibility given back to the states and even more autonomy available at the local district level, the state plan will play an important role, and Alabama is taking the lead.

“The Every Student Succeeds Act creates a role for every governor to move his or her education system from federal mandate to a state-centric approach,” Legislative Director for the National Governors Association Education and Workforce Committee Stephen Parker said. “Governor Bentley is the first governor to issue an executive order to ensure educators, district leaders and parents help determine a new direction for schools. Alabama serves as a model for education stakeholder engagement across the country.”

The Alabama ESSA Implementation Committee had its first meeting on Monday, May 9, 2016. In the coming days, the committee’s chair and vice chairs in a partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education are holding subcommittee meetings in Accountability, Data Collection and Reporting, Schools and District Improvement, Early Learning, Educator Effectiveness, Standards and Assessment and Title Programs. Additionally, committee leadership is working to host forums for local education agency leaders to have a voice in the development of the state plan.

The first round of subcommittee meetings will be held Friday, June 24^th and Monday, June 27^th at 135 S. Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama.

For more information about upcoming meetings, the committee member list and the executive order that established the committee or to access the public comment form, visit the Governor’s website for more information.

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