As state and school district leaders scramble to prepare for the Every Student Succeeds Act’s new challenges and flexibility, Education Week provides practical takeaways on ESSA’s crucial 2017-18 rollout. The new law resets the relationship between the federal government and other players on K-12 policy, giving greater autonomy—and added responsibility—to state and local officials. This virtual event will outline the state of play on ESSA implementation, including new federal regulations and guidance, timelines, and the capacity lift for state and local officials. Education Week journalists and guests will staff discussion rooms dedicated to specific high-profile topics, including: testing and assessments; whole-child and non-academic factors in weighing school quality; federal regulation and oversight; teacher professional development; and states’ capacity and role in stakeholder engagement.
Keys to ESSA Readiness: Reporter Insights
On Feb. 1, 2017, Education Week hosted “Keys to ESSA Readiness,” an online event connecting our readers with reporters for a day of discussions about the new federal law, the Every Student Succeeds Act. In this livestream, hosted by Broadcast Correspondent Lisa Stark, veteran reporters Catherine Gewertz and Alyson Klein provide key takeaways from the day’s discussions.

Agenda
Welcome
Then, join Holly Peele, Education Week librarian, and David Rosenzweig, EdWeek Press Program Associate, for an exploration of anything you might ever want from Education Week on ESSA, including:

#ESSASummit17 Discussions Open
Room 1: Assessments
‣ Moderator: Catherine Gewertz, associate editor, Education Week
‣ Join us for a discussion of topics such as ESSA’s new local assessment pilot program; the option to use college-entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT instead of high-stakes state tests for accountability purposes; and the impact of the opt-out movement and other factors affecting mandatory test participation.
Room 2: Whole-Child and Non-Academic Factors
‣ Moderator/Guest: Evie Blad, staff writer, Education Week
‣ Education Week’s lead reporter on social-emotional learning will discuss how districts can go about incorporating factors other than standardized testing, such as school climate and graduation rates, into school ratings as required by ESSA. She will examine what factors are gaining traction; how they will be measured; practical challenges in putting them into effect; and what the research says.
Room 3: ESSA’s Federal Landscape
‣ Education Week’s federal policy reporters Alyson Klein and Andrew Ujifusa unpack the state of federal ESSA regulations and implementation in areas including school and student accountability, federal funding, English-learners, students in special education, and the changing power balance on K-12 policy.
Room 4: Teacher Professional Development
‣ Moderator: Michelle R. Davis, senior writer, Education Week Digital Directions
‣ The new federal education law calls for ongoing, personalized, and collaborative professional development, with a focus on evidence-based efforts. The law steers school districts away from one-shot trainings that pull teachers out of class. Join our guests as we explore ESSA’s implications for expanded teacher professional development, including grant programs, other issues.
Room 5: State Capacity and Stakeholder Participation
‣ Moderator: Daarel Burnette II, staff writer, Education Week
‣ Education Week’s state policy reporter moderates a discussion on the resource and capacity challenges states and districts face in implementing ESSA’s requirements. Discussion also may touch on ESSA’s requirement for stakeholders to be involved in the shaping of federal ESSA plans.
Room 6: ESSA: The Implications for Education Companies
‣ Moderator: Sean Cavanagh, Senior Editor, EdWeek Market Brief
‣ The Every Student Succeeds Act, approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama late last year, marks an historic shift in federal education policy—one that will shape the work of states, districts, and individual educators for years to come. But what does it mean for companies operating in the K-12 market?






Live Webinar: ESSA's Impact—Views from Districts and Schools
Join Holly Yettick, Director of the Education Week Research Center, and Senior Research Associate Sterling Lloyd as they explore the results of their survey of teacher and district administrator views on key elements of the ESSA transition.


Webinar Simulcast
- ESSA Explained: Inside the Nation’s New K-12 Law
- ESSA and K-12 Policy: State and District Perspectives
- Monitoring and Improving School Climate With Student Surveys
Final Reporter Wrap-up
Led by the reporters and moderated by Lisa Stark, Correspondent, Education Week, the Education Week newsroom will close out the day with insights from the discussions they’ve had with you, the readers.