TEA Posts Additional Updates and Guidance on Assessment and Accountability
If you are not already doing so…Members may want to check the agency’s new COVID-19 website each day for new information. For example, yesterday, March 19, TEA posted three assessment and accountability updates on the new COVID-19 website:
Updated Assessment FAQs as of March 19
This FAQ answers specific questions related to EOCs, TELPAS, and Interim Assessments.
SAT, ACT, TSIA, and AP/IB Update as of March 19 Earlier this week, we reported the changes to the SAT, ACT, and AP tests; however, TEA’s document includes information regarding TSIA 1.0 and 2.0, HB 3 exam reimbursements, and IB information.
Commissioner Morath’s letter to USDE dated March 17
The Commissioner sent a letter to Dr. Frank Brogan, Assistant Secretary USDE, officially requesting a waiver from ESSA assessment and accountability requirements for the 2019-2020 school year .
TEA Requests Comments on New ESSA Waiver regarding Testing and Accountability Requirements for 2019-2020 School Year
TEA has asked the USDE to “waive the assessment and accountability requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), for the 2019–2020 school year in this extraordinary circumstance where the closure of schools during the state’s testing window has inhibited the ability of the state to accurately measure students’ performance and report results to parents and stakeholders.”
A copy of the new ESSA waiver may be accessed here. The public comment period ends March 31, 2020.
NOTE: TSA intends to submit comments on the ESSA waiver and asks that each TSA accountability expert review the proposed waiver and email the district’s feedback, comments, and/or recommendations to dcarney@hillcopartners.com by Friday, March 27.
Dee will combine all of the responses into one document for TSA leadership approval and submission to TEA.
Statement from Commissioner Mike Morath on the Temporary Statewide Closure of Schools
Read the Commissioner’s statement here.
U.S. Secretary DeVos Exploring Broad Waiver Authority for States to Help Deal With Coronavirus
According to this recent Education Week blog, State school chiefs have urged federal officials to create “an expedited process for waiving state testing requirements, as well as further direction on ensuring equity for students with disabilities in online learning environments. And on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education indicated that new waiver powers to address the impacts of the virus would soon be forthcoming.” Read the blog here.
NOTE: We will continue to monitor the USDE’s COVID-19 webpage for new information and updates.