DEED Seeking Public Comment on COVID-19 State Plan Addendum

To address the extraordinary circumstances of extended and widespread closures of schools due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, on March 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education invited, pursuant to section 8401(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), each State educational agency to request a waiver, for the 2019-2020 school year, of assessment, accountability and school identification, and certain related reporting requirements. DEED applied for and received this waiver.

The waiving of these requirements, as well as the continued implications of COVID-19, impact how each State education agency will implement its ESEA consolidated State plan in the 2020-2021 school year. The U.S. Department of Education has created a streamlined process for a state education agency to amend its ESEA consolidated State plan to account for one-year changes (e.g., changes to how the State education agency will hold schools accountable for the 2020-2021 school year) and two specific long-term changes.

DEED has prepared a response to the addendum and a corresponding waiver and are now seeking public comment on this COVID-19 State Plan Addendum. Two webinars are scheduled for the middle of December (connection information can be found below). At each of these webinars, DEED will walk through the components of the addendum and waiver and describe DEED’s proposed action (if any) on the component. At the end of each webinar, a survey link to collect public comment will be provided.

Your participation and engagement are encouraged and appreciated as we work together to determine how best to amend our State plan due to the impacts of COVID-19 on accountability for the 2020-2021 school year.

Webinar Information:

Friday, December 18^th – 11:00am-12:00pm

School Accountability - Proposed ESEA State Plan Changes

Hosted by Colton Christian, DEED Data Manager

https://stateofalaska.webex.com/stateofalaska/j.php?MTID=m1ad357375ed59fd21f8589d823e318e9

Meeting number: 177 207 7067

Password: V2QfY3TZYm6 (82739389 from phones)

Join by phone

1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)

Access code: 177 207 7067

Tuesday, December 22^nd – 1:00-2:00pm

School Accountability - Proposed ESEA State Plan Changes

Hosted by Colton Christian, DEED Data Manager

https://stateofalaska.webex.com/stateofalaska/j.php?MTID=m7967cb637cfb18d8463e055c554e9238

Meeting number: 177 541 0869

Password: PQtgbxTU862 (77842988 from phones)

Join by phone

1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)

Access code: 177 541 0869

If you have any questions, please contact Colton Christian (colton.christian@alaska.gov or 907-465-8418).