Message from OEA re: ESSA

​Dear Colleagues,
 
As you are likely aware, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides all educators an unprecedented opportunity to participate in critical decisions about our public schools. Since the passage of ESSA, NEA has focused on raising awareness of these opportunities through My School, My Voice initiatives. While ESSA provides educators with opportunities, it does not provide us with guarantees.
 
NEA members understand the importance of this opportunity and adopted New Business Item #49 at the 2019 Representative Assembly to direct NEA to encourage local affiliates to collect and share information with NEA and state affiliates on how districts are implementing the requirement for input from educators, parents, and community stakeholders under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). To satisfy NBI 49*, the Education Policy and Practice (EPP) Department has developed a short survey as a means to collect this information from NEA Local Affiliates.
 
To accomplish this, we ask that you share the survey widely throughout your local Association and your community. Please include individuals and groups who have been involved in ESSA implementation and/or educator voice activities. To understand how the stakeholder engagement requirement has influenced local actions, we encourage you to share the link with others within your local Association as well as families and other community stakeholders.
 
You can access the survey here. The survey link is active and will remain active until December 8, 2019.
 
ESSA presents us with a landmark opportunity to influence education in the United States through educator voice. If you have questions or would like to connect with us to learn more about what you can do to seize local opportunities under ESSA, please email ESSAinfo@nea.org.
 
Together, we can take action and provide opportunity to every student regardless of zip code.
 
Thank you for your assistance.
 
Sincerely,

Scott DiMauro
OEA President