Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Update

Testing Industry Denied a Seat on ESSA

Rulemaking Committee

Despite a nomination from the Association of Test Publishers, as well as from at least one other ATP member, no representative of the testing industry was chosen for the U.S. Department of Education's Negotiated Rulemaking Committee focusing on the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA.)  ATP's Legislative Counsel Alan Thiemann noted that though this was a disappointment, it was not entirely a surprise.  He reported that the nomination submission form did not even have a category of nominee which would have been an accurate fit for the testing/assessment industry. Instead, he said, test publishers had to apply under the generic heading of Business.  He reported that nominees that were accepted included two state superintendents as well as representatives of parents, students, local officials, civil rights groups, and business.  He indicated that the business representative who was selected works for Exxon and is a past Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. "She does, therefore, have some knowledge about assessments," Thiemann noted.  He said the Department of Education will hold six days of committee meetings with the option for two more, and that ATP would continue to monitor all reports coming from the committee.

Earlier in the year ATP submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education regarding ESSA. Those comments can be read in full here.