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Ohio Department of Education
A Message from
Paolo DeMaria, Superintendent of Public Instruction
As Ohioans, we all want every child to receive a high-quality education
so they can succeed in life, careers and future learning. That unity is
crucial as we seek to lead our education system to be the best it can
be in the service of every child. Only by working together can we reach
our aspirations.
The submission of the state's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
response should be an event that unites us. In recent weeks, we've
heard from stakeholders who feel their input was not reflected in the
ESSA template. In reality, however, stakeholder sentiments were heard
loud and clear, and we have stated our commitment to identifying
solutions to the challenges raised. Much of this work can be done
outside the narrow focus of the ESSA specifications. For example, we
already have sought recommendations for changes to the Ohio Teacher
Evaluation System from the Educator Standards Board.
Federal law now gives states the flexibility to make choices that best
suit our needs. We are convening a Superintendent's Advisory Committee
on Assessments to focus on the full range of testing issues — including
state-required tests, as well as district-level tests. From the
beginning, we also have envisioned a more comprehensive strategic
planning process that would not be limited by the narrow focus of
federal regulations. We are excited to begin that work.
To allow this work to advance and drive needed change, the Department
will delay the ESSA submission to the U.S. Department of Education to
September. This also will allow more time to ensure that feedback
received on the draft template can be considered carefully.
In a transparent way, we will continue to work closely with
legislators, the governor, business leaders, educators and the public
to undertake a comprehensive strategic planning process. The strategic
plan will include a clear vision for education in Ohio, supported by a
set of goals, strategies, tactics and metrics.
After the ESSA template is submitted to the U.S. Department of
Education in September, we will continue to engage stakeholders to
develop resources, design supports and assist school districts with
implementation.
Thank you for all you do for our children and families. Together, we’ll
make significant strides in improving opportunities and outcomes for
Ohio’s students.
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