ESSA Accountability Designations
Overview
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the main federal law for K-12 public education, aims to ensure all children get a quality education. The law requires that states hold public schools accountable for how students achieve. ESSA does give states flexibility—their accountability systems can measure much more than just test scores.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has established a set of indicators to measure school performance. NYSED developed these indicators with the input of thousands of people statewide—parents, educators, and experts. The indicators include:
- student academic achievement;
- student growth and school progress;
- progress of English language learners;
- chronic absenteeism; and
- for high schools, graduation rates and preparing students for college, career and civic engagement.
Accountability Support Models
Schools and districts earned levels for all students and for student subgroups. Such subgroups include members of racial and ethnic groups, low-income students, students with disabilities and English language learners. These levels are used to determine whether a district is identified for Local Support and Improvement (LSI) or as a Target District and whether a school is identified for LSI, Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), or Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI). Local educational agencies (LEAs) are notified for Potential Target District when they have a district-level subgroup that met identification criteria or if they have a school in their district that has a subgroup identified for PTSI. Under the determined accountability support models, NYSED has developed tools and resources to support and build capacity around continuous improvement for all schools. The figure below shows the multiple entry points that support models provide for flexible, adaptable practices that promote sustainable structures around improvement planning and monitoring impact.
Accountability Data
Archived Accountability Designations
Participation Rate Improvement Plan
Participation Rate Improvement Plan Webinar 2019-20 - March 10, 2020
Memo: 2019 -20 Participation Rate Improvement Plan
Memo: 2019-20 Participation Rate Improvement Plan - 10 Percent
Recognition Schools
Recognition Schools List 2019-20
Recognition Schools Data File 2019-20
Identification Methodology for Recognition Schools based on 2018-19 School Year Results
Fact Sheets
Fact sheets on the new accountability system are available for parents and teachers. The fact sheet for parents is available in 11 languages.
News Releases
14 Struggling Schools Make Demonstrable Improvement and Remain Under Superintendent Receivership - November 8, 2019
State Education Department Announces New School Accountability Determinations - January 17, 2019
Memos
2019-20 Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) Basic - Planning Grants - May 13, 2020
2019 -20 Participation Rate Improvement Plan - March 5, 2020
2019-20 Participation Rate Improvement Plan - 10 Percent - March 5, 2020
Resources for Schools
Elementary School Sample PowerPoint Template: Explaining the New Accountability System - TSI
High School Sample PowerPoint Template: Explaining the New Accountability System - TSI
Elementary School Sample PowerPoint Template: Explaining the New Accountability System - CSI
High School Sample PowerPoint Template: Explaining the New Accountability System - CSI
2019-20 Charter School DCIP Equivalency Form
A charter school identified as a CSI or TSI school shall take such actions as are required by its charter authorizer pursuant to Article 56 of the Education Law consistent with the charter agreement that each charter school has with its charter authorizer. CSI charter schools receiving Title I funds must also submit a Charter School District Comprehensive Improvement Plan (DCIP) Equivalency Form to the Department by June 29, 2020.