The inclusion of students with disabilities in standards-based reform greatly impacts the progress and achievement of students who receive special education services. It’s critical that special education teachers understand how these requirements impact their programs and students. Foremost among federal law concerning standards-based assessment and accountability in special education services in the U.S. is the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Educators, along with districts, schools and families, must take the ESSA framework into account as they develop special education plans. Aspiring special education teachers can explore how the tenets of ESSA impact classroom practices and assessment through coursework in the online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Special Education (K-12) program from Arkansas State University (A-State). With expertise in aligning special education services with regulatory standards, teachers can accomplish the critical goal of ensuring their students succeed in school and beyond.
What Is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?
Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act into law in 2015. ESSA is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), originally signed into law in 1965. ESSA replaced the most recent reauthorization of ESEA, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as the federal standard for public K-12 education in the United States.
ESSA comprises numerous updates and amendments to NCLB, reforming many aspects of standards, assessment and funding in the educational system. According to ESSA, the overarching purpose of the law is to “provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.”
ESSA Requirements for Academic Standards
When compared to NCLB, ESSA gives states more control over standards-based reform. However, there are still federal standards that states must meet. Chief among these involves academic standards and student testing.
For instance, under ESSA, states set academic standards in math, reading and science that all students must meet, including students who receive special education services. As explained by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, this means that, “In simplest terms, states cannot set lower standards just for students with disabilities.”
Significantly, ESSA allows states to adopt alternate academic achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. However, according to the law, these alternate academic achievement standards must still align with “challenging State academic content standards” and “promote access to the same general education curriculum,” ensuring students are “on track to pursue postsecondary education or employment.”
Annual Testing, Accommodations and Alternate Assessment
States must also give all students academic assessments, including those receiving special education, per federal guidelines under ESSA. These academic assessments must align with each state’s academic content and achievement standards.
From third through eighth grade, states must assess student performance annually in math and reading. In high school, states must give students an academic assessment at least once in these areas. States must also assess student performance in science once during each in the following time spans: grades three through five, grades six through nine and grades 10 through 12.
Under ESSA, students with disabilities must receive appropriate accommodations, such as assistive technology use, as outlined in their individualized education plans (IEPs). States may provide students with the most significant cognitive disabilities alternate assessments that align with both the state’s academic standards and alternate academic achievement standards.
The number of students provided with alternate assessments must be no more than 1% of the total number of students tested in any subject. However, in very limited circumstances, the U.S. Department of Education may grant states a temporary waiver on the 1% cap on alternate assessments.
Alternate Diplomas for Students With Significant Cognitive Disabilities
ESSA introduced the concept of the “alternate diploma,” which gives states the option to create a credential for students who would not otherwise be able to meet the graduation standards required for a traditional diploma. This creates a way for states to award a diploma to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are permitted to take the alternate assessments described above. A state may award alternate diplomas if and when that state sets specific expectations and requirements that follow these three criteria:
- They must be standards-based, meaning they are in line with grade-level content standards.
- The standards must align with those required for a regular diploma. This means, for example, that if a student must pass four years of English language arts to graduate with a regular diploma, students receiving an alternate diploma must pass the same four years of that class, albeit under different criteria for passing.
- The alternate diploma must be obtained within the timeframe that states provide a student with a free appropriate public education (FAPE), as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). This timeframe generally spans ages 3-21, though some states may extend the age limit.
What Does ESSA Mean for Special Education Teacher Preparation?
ESSA contains other significant regulations, including school performance, accountability and improvement, disciplinary practices, and teacher preparation. However, in all areas, the ESSA’s primary goal is to close the achievement gap and provide every student with a fair, equitable and high-quality education.
With advanced, specialized degree options like A-State’s online MAT in Special Education K-12 degree, educators can meet teacher preparation standards while playing an important role in achieving the overarching goal of ESSA. Comprehensive coursework provides teachers with the techniques, tools and instructional knowhow to give every student a quality education and help them meet and exceed challenging academic standards set by their state.
Learn more about A-State’s online Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 program.