Analyzing the Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act State Plans: The Role of Local Education Agencies in School Improvement

• In Event: 79.048 - The Role of State Education Agencies and the New Wave of School Reforms

Abstract

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has provided states with the opportunity to re-evaluate the role of districts and schools in supporting their lowest-performing schools and subgroups of students. The purpose of this study is to describe state education agency (SEA) and local education agency (LEA) roles in school improvement, as described in ESSA state plans, and during the first year of ESSA implementation (2017-2018). This study is the second phase of a study by the authors which previously identified four key roles in SEA/LEA relations described in ESSA state plans. Through interviews, this study affirms the complex role of SEAs and LEAs in supporting school improvement and documents early enactment of SEA/LEA roles under ESSA.

Authors

• Eric Ambroso, Arizona State University

• Lenay D. Dunn, WestEd