August 2018
Dear Parent/Guardian:
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law on December 10, 2015. This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50 -year -old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students.
The law builds on key areas of progress in recent year, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students across the country.
Some key items of note:
• ESSA replaces NCLB and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for fiscal years 2017- 2020.
• Full implementation began July 1, 2017
• Requires at least three performance goals in the areas of student instruction and growth, parent involvement, and professional development.
• Moves accountability from Title III/ELL to Title I for English language learner students.
• Districts must notify parents of their rights to request and receive information regarding the professional qualifications of their children’s classroom teachers/Title I staff.
Your child’s school receives a limited amount of Title I funding and is covered under ESSA guidelines.
Under ESA, parents/guardians have a right to know the professional qualifications of their children’s Title teacher, instructional assistant and or the program coordinator. This letter is to inform you of your right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s Title I teacher, the school’s literacy specialist, Title I instructional assistant, and or the Title I program administrator.
• Whether the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
• Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency permit or other provisional status through which state licensing criteria have been waived.
• The teacher’s college major, whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subjects of the degrees.
• Whether any instructional assistant provides services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.
If you would like to receive specific information about your building’s Title I staff member(s) or your schools Title I program or parent policy, please contact your school’s Chief Academic Officer.
The Charter High School for Architecture & Design, which implements a Title I Schoolwide Program is fully committed to the success of your child. We appreciate your partnership in our efforts.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Jeffries Barnett, Interim Chief Executive Officer