ESSA and Right to Know
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in December, 2015, reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) which includes right to know requests. These regulations allow you to learn more about your child’s teachers’ training and credentials. Parents and family members may request the following information:
- whether a teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching
- whether a teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived
- what undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration
Parents and family members may request information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out. Information on required assessments includes:
- subject matter tested
- purpose of the test
- source of the requirement (if applicable)
- amount of time it takes students to complete the test
- time and format of disseminating results
If you would like to receive specific information about your child’s teacher, please contact your school’s principal. For general information about ESSA, please contact Dr. Matthew R. Conner, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education or Dr. Kimberlie Rieffannacht, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education.