Arkansas Commissioner looking for educators input on Accountability plan!

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The Commissioner of Education Johnney Key held the final forum of 10 held across the state. The mission of these forums was to get input from educators and the community on an accountability plan for schools in the state. The plan must be submitted to the United States Department of Education by July 2017.

Commissioner Key has big plans for Arkansas schools. He would like to make Arkansas a leader in accountability in the United States. He believes correlating a student-focused plan that takes in account more than just the state testing is the answer.

This plan is required with the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act which requires every state to have challenging academic standards and to test annually in Math, ELA, and Science. In addition, the law requires states to evaluate “Student Success, Academics, and School Quality.” This is the latest update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

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The vision for the new plan would make way for students to have multiple pathways to graduation, and measure learning in a variety of different ways. Unlike most states current plan that measures the success or failure of state testing.

Once Arkansas gathers the feedback from educators and the community, they will need to review the feedback and release a new Accountability Plan by April for public comment. Then it will be reviewed, and submitted for approval.

Accountability is the key to making schools in all states succeed, and college and career ready. Each state seems to be developing their plans differently. Some are looking for feedback from the public like in Arkansas. Others are looking at what other states are doing. The United States is in a transition when it comes to accountability. Is there really a correct way to ensure our schools are held accountable for our children to succeed? Only time will tell what the correct plan will be.

Referenced Article: http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/oct/26/commissioner-asks-for-input-on-school-a/

Jeremy Brunton