State educators adapt to new Every Student Succeeds Act

The state education department is seeking public input on a new plan to meet Alaska’s unique education challenges. Under the new federal law, Every Student Succeeds Act, the state must design its own requirements to meet the standards under the new federal law.

Every Student Succeeds replaces the old No Child Left Behind federal program. Margaret MacKinnon is a director of accountability with the Alaska department of education. She said the public is invited to attend any one of a series of webinars now being offered to present the key elements of a state plan for measuring schools and districts.

“Well the state has more flexibility under this new law to create some options for sections of the state plan, so we have created a series of five webinars that are available not only to invited members of educational organizations, but also to the general public,” MacKinnon said. “They will have an opportunity to have an overview of what the elements of the plan will be, and then to give us some of their ideas on what they value most.”

Mackinnon said local control of educational systems is a priority with the state Board of Education.

“Well the new law made some significant changes in giving more control back to states, local education agencies and schools in designing the best system for the state,” Mackinnon said.

MacKinnon said all people are invited to join in the webinars.

The webinars started Wednesday and are repeated four times through June 13. The webinars can be accessed through the state department of education home page on the state of Alaska website at www.education.alaska.gov under News and Announcements.