Colleagues,

Superintendent Glenda Ritz's is hosting listening tours that provide an opportunity to share input regarding the development of Indiana's ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) plan. The facilitators present for approximately 30 minutes and then open the floor for public comment (no questions). Those wishing to comment are limited to 3 minutes and must sign up at the start of the meeting. While individuals can also make comment via the website, presence at the meetings would definitely increase our voice! WE NEED SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO ATTEND AND SPEAK (EVEN BRIEFLY) ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS FOR OUR CHILDREN! There is specific language in ESSA that opens the door for explaining our role in schools.

Click on the linked agenda which includes the specific questions on which they are seeking input, but don't let that limit you! 

If you are able to attend one of the sessions (schedule and location details below), I would encourage you to review the following information from the ASCA website.

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION GLENDA RITZ ANNOUNCES EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT LISTENING TOUR

INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz announced a statewide listening tour to gather input from families, educators, community members and other stakeholders on the state’s education plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act.  This new federal law, also called ESSA, requires state education agencies to develop a plan to be submitted to the United States Department of Education in 2017.  The first stop of the statewide Every Student Succeeds Act Listening Tour is in Indianapolis on the evening of September 14.  The Indiana Department of Education has scheduled a total of nine meetings throughout the state.

“Input from families, educators and community members is essential to ensuring that Indiana’s ESSA Plan is comprehensive and responsive to local needs,” said Ritz.  “After years of asking the federal government to get rid of the punitive No Child Left Behind law, we finally have flexibility to create an Indiana education plan that meets the unique needs of our students.  That is why I am excited about the work we are doing to develop the Indiana ESSA Plan alongside Hoosier communities.” 

The Every Student Succeeds Act Listening Tour will include presentations from Department experts on both state and federal regulations in the areas of accountability, assessment and school improvement.  Additionally, the Department will gather direct input from families, educators and community members through both targeted questions and general public comment.

In addition to the statewide listening tour, the Department has formed several stakeholder advisory committees to gather input on its state ESSA plan as is required by the federal legislation.  The Department also created a comprehensive ESSA website which includes an online comment portal for those unable to attend an in-person meeting.

The dates and locations of the nine meetings are listed below.  All times are local.

September 14, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

Indianapolis 

September 15, 2016

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Fort Wayne

September 22, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

Evansville 

September 29, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

Merrillville 

October 4, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

Richmond

October 5, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

New Albany

October 6, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

South Bend

October 11, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

Terre Haute

October 12, 2016

4:30 – 6:30 PM

Kokomo

Additional information on the Every Student Succeeds Act, including details for each of the ESSA Listening Tour locations, is available on the Department’s website.

essa-listening-tour-presentation.pptx