The National School Boards Association is urging local school board members to provide input to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) on the educational and technical assistance needs of states and school districts by participating in a survey that the department is conducting. The survey deadline is Aug. 18.
The input will help inform the recommendations on how those needs would most effectively be met under the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
The USDOE established ten Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) to collect input and formulate recommendations for the Regional Educational Laboratories as part of the Comprehensive Centers program.
The Comprehensive Centers program is authorized by Title II of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (ETAA), Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA) of 2002. The USDOE funds these centers to provide technical assistance to state education agencies that build the capacity to support local school districts and schools, especially low-performing districts and schools; improve educational outcomes for all students; close achievement gaps; and improve the quality of instruction.
Local board members who would like to provide input to the RACs can go to the RAC portal and respond to the five-question survey by clicking Needs Sensing Survey and identifying themselves as local school board members in the second question.
Board members are welcome to refer to NSBA’s Legislative Priorities for the implementation of ESSA for more information.