DeVos Offers ‘Tough Love’ To State Chiefs On ESSA Plans That She Says Miss The Mark

DeVos Offers ‘Tough Love’ to State Chiefs on ESSA Plans That She Says Miss the Mark

Washington, D.C.

Imagine Betsy DeVos released from her constraints.

The education secretary, after enduring a difficult confirmation process and facing public protests, initially exercised caution during her first months on the job. She adhered closely to Republican beliefs, advocating for less government interference and promising to approve any state plan that met the minimum requirements outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act.

However, DeVos has now chosen to speak openly, offering what she refers to as "tough love" to state education secretaries for what she perceives as their failure to fully embrace the flexibility and opportunities provided by the law. She believes that even the best state plans do not fully utilize the law’s built-in flexibility and that defending these plans through public relations efforts misses the mark.

According to DeVos, too many state plans only meet the bare minimum requirements of the law, and compliance does not necessarily mean that these plans are in the best interest of students.

While governors were given the option to offer their opinions on the ESSA plans, it was the state superintendents and education secretaries who took the lead in their creation, with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) defending these efforts.

State chiefs emphasized that their work extends beyond the formal ESSA plans and that they are striving to be creative in meeting the needs of all students. Carey Wright, the Mississippi schools superintendent and CCSSO president, explained that they are looking beyond the simplicity of the plans they submitted.

DeVos scaled back the requirements for state plans, stating that the templates provided limited information and preventing her from gaining a comprehensive understanding of education in each state.

DeVos took advantage of the opportunity to address these concerns because of the presence of all the state chiefs. She explained that her remarks were intended to encourage states to go beyond the plans and address the needs of individual students with creativity and boldness, despite any limitations imposed by the federal department.

Following her speech, DeVos did not take questions publicly but met privately with the assembled chiefs to discuss school safety issues, which have been in the spotlight since the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Thirty state education chiefs were present at the conference, though the exact number in the room during DeVos’s address is unknown.

This speech at the CCSSO conference marks the second time DeVos has delivered a pointed address this year. In January, she criticized previous federal reform efforts at the American Enterprise Institute.

In her statement, DeVos also criticized states for their confusing annual report cards, while praising Louisiana for implementing an A-F school grading system. An unnamed state was singled out for creating an indecipherable color-coded dashboard, likely referring to California, whose plan is still awaiting federal approval.

As the deadline for submitting ESSA plans approaches, many states are moving away from summative ratings for school performance.

Although she did not have many positive words to say about the state ESSA plans, she did not threaten any federal action towards those that fail to meet the standards.

The Education Department will not use waivers as a weapon, which was a common criticism of the Obama administration’s approach in the later years of No Child Left Behind. She also stated that she will not reject plans that do not align with her beliefs as the "choice chief."

Instead, she believes that it is up to the states to take the lead and find ways to give more authority to teachers and parents.

She emphasized that there are opportunities that are not explicitly stated in the plans, and she wants to make sure that states are aware of these opportunities and encouraged to take advantage of them.

In conclusion, she urged state chiefs to reconsider their approach to education and focus on serving students rather than getting caught up in graduation rates, rankings, or pet projects. She reminded everyone that these are not just statistics or political matters, but they involve the futures of our children and ourselves.