In December 2018, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) informed the Hawaii State Department of Education that its methodology to identify schools’ student subgroups for additional targeted support and improvement (A-TSI) as described in its approved Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated State Plan, did not meet federal requirements. As a result, Hawaii will submit an amendment.
Overview
In December 2018, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) informed the Hawaii State Department of Education that its methodology to identify schools’ student subgroups for additional targeted support and improvement (A-TSI) as described in its approved Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated State Plan did not meet federal requirements. As a result, Hawaii will submit an amendment to its ESSA Consolidated State Plan to comply with the applicable federal requirements.
Common questions
What is an ESSA Consolidated State Plan?
The ESSA was signed by President Obama on December 2015. The purpose of the ESSA Consolidated State Plan is to provide parents with quality, transparent information about ESSA as implemented in their State.
Hawaii’s ESSA Consolidated State Plan was approved by the Board of Education on September 5, 2017 and signed by Governor Ige and Superintendent Kishimoto. The plan was subsequently approved by the USDOE on January 19, 2018.
Why does Hawaii need to amend its ESSA Consolidated State Plan?
The USDOE periodically conducts Progress Checks to monitor states’ implementation of the ESSA. During Hawaii’s Progress Check in December 2018, the USDOE indicated that Hawaii’s methodology to identify schools’ subgroups for A-TSI did not meet federal requirements. As a result, Hawaii will amend its ESSA Consolidated State Plan to meet federal requirements.
What is the process for amending an ESSA Consolidated State Plan?
According to the November 14, 2018 Dear Colleague Letter, any revision to an ESSA Consolidated State Plan must be submitted to the USDOE for review and approval. Prior to submitting an amendment to USDOE, a State must consult with the Governor on the amendment, afford a reasonable opportunity for public comment on the amendment, and consider such comments.
What will Hawaii’s proposed ESSA amendment address?
The purpose of this amendment is to ensure Hawaii’s ESSA Consolidated State Plan meets all federal requirements.
USDOE is requiring HIDOE to change its methodology for identifying A-TSI.
As a result of changing the A-TSI methodology, HIDOE proposes to also change the methodology for identifying consistently underperforming subgroups (TSI-CU).
HIDOE’s proposal identifies A-TSI from the pool of TSI-CU schools’ subgroups.
The proposed A-TSI methodology may be seen as an escalation of support for schools.
What are the ESSA federal requirements regarding a State’s methodology to identify schools’ subgroups for A-TSI?
ESSA requires that Hawaii provide A-TSI to any subgroup of students that, on its own, would be identified in the lowest-performing five (5) percent of Title I schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI).
How does Hawaii propose to change its methodology to meet ESSA federal requirements?
Hawaii’s approved ESSA Consolidated State Plan uses the lowest unit score of the lowest-performing five (5) percent of Title I schools identified for CSI as the threshold for the identification of schools’ subgroups for A-TSI. Hawaii will revise its methodology as follows:
Hawaii will annually identify schools with “consistently underperforming” subgroups, defined as subgroups with the lowest performing unit score, in the bottom 10 percent of all schools for two consecutive years (TSI-CU).
Once every three years, Hawaii will identify, for A-TSI, the TSI-CU schools whose consistently underperforming subgroups’ unit score is equal to or lower than the highest unit score of Title I schools identified for CSI.
To see Hawaii’s approved ESSA Consolidated State Plan, click here. For a redlined version of the approved ESSA Consolidated State Plan that reflects the proposed revisions, click here.
What is the anticipated impact of the proposed amendment?
The proposed methodology is anticipated to impact the following:
The Hawaii Department of Education estimates between 10-30 schools could have subgroup(s) identified for A-TSI in Fall 2020.
Schools identified as A-TSI in Fall 2017 will be eligible to be identified as a new CSI school in Fall 2020 if a school is identified in the lowest-performing five (5) percent of Title I schools or if a school’s graduation rate falls below 67 percent.
Schools identified as A-TSI in Fall 2017 will be eligible to be re-identified as A-TSI in Fall 2020 if they meet the identification criteria (see proposed methodology above).
How do I submit comments on the proposed amendment?
To submit comments on Hawaii’s proposed amendment to its ESSA Consolidated State Plan regarding the methodology for identifying schools’ subgroups for A-TSI, click here, or you may call the Accountability Section Office at (808) 733-4008. The deadline for comments is Friday, August 16, 2019.
The public survey on Hawaiiʻs proposed amendment to its ESSA Consolidated State Plan relating to its identification of school subgroups for A-TSI will be open through August 16, 2019.