Act Now: Call for Stronger Accountability and Transparency Under ESSA
By Andrea Roethke
By now, you’ve probably heard that the Minnesota Department of Education has released its draft plan for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Although the plan has some wins for students, it also has weaknesses that undermine its potential to advance transparency and accountability for Minnesota’s students and families. Thankfully, MDE is taking public comment on the plan through the end of August. Now is the time for action!
Only have one minute? Click here to contact MDE with your concerns and suggestions.
If you have more time, this fact sheet summarizes the plan’s strengths and weaknesses in detail. You can use this resource to submit an official public comment online, and/or to attend attend one of MDE’s public meetings. The first is tonight in St. Paul, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation, and below is more information on the remaining meetings across the state. If you plan to attend tonight’s meeting or any others, register here.
- St. Paul: Tuesday, Aug. 15, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation Auditorium
- Rochester: Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at John Marshall High School Auditorium
- Mankato: Thursday, Aug. 17, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at West High School Auditorium
- Moorhead: Monday, Aug. 21, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Moorhead High School Auditorium
- Sartell: Tuesday, Aug. 22, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Resource Training and Education, First Level Training Rooms
- Duluth: Wednesday, Aug. 23, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Denfeld High School Cafeteria
The more MDE hears from concerned educators, parents, and community members, the more likely they are to improve the plan before submitting the final version next month. As the state finalizes its ESSA plan, which will shape school accountability and transparency for families for years to come, your voice matters now more than ever. Thanks for taking action!