How State Education Agencies Understand the External Provider Landscape

• In Event: The Changing Role of States in Supporting School Turnaround in the Era of the Every Student Succeeds Act

Abstract

As state education agencies (SEAs) become increasingly responsible for district and school improvement, their ability to recruit, vet, monitor, and evaluate external providers is critical to ensuring that students most in need receive the services and educational opportunities we aspire to deliver through public education. Yet, little systematic consideration has been given to SEA processes to ensure districts and schools are served by relevant, high-quality external providers. In this mixed-methods study, we analyze publicly available documents that address school improvement and external providers (e.g., ESEA flexibility waivers) for 14 states and administer surveys and conduct interviews with key personnel. We find the processes used to leverage external providers vary considerably by state. Implications for policy and practice are also discussed.

Authors

• Bryan A. VanGronigen, University of Virginia

• Coby Meyers, University of Virginia