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USBE says ESSA amendment submitted to Department of Education; board approved RISE ELA cut scores pending federal review
Summary
Utah State Board of Education staff reported the board approved an ESSA amendment and RISE ELA cut scores. The ESSA amendment has been sent to the U.S. Department of Education for review (the department has 90 days to respond); staff said implementation guidance will follow federal decision.
Staff member 1, a Utah State Board of Education (USBE) assessment director, told attendees that the board had approved an amendment to the state's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan and that "that amendment is gonna be sent to the US Department of Education for review and approval." She added that the department has 90 days to respond once it receives the submission.
USBE staff cautioned that board approval does not equal federal approval. Staff member 2 clarified the federal timeline: "just remember that when we submit that, because our board has approved it, that doesn't mean that it is approved yet, by the US Department of Education. And when Scott says they have 90 days, that means that, if they don't respond in 90 days, it is automatically approved. But, if they respond within those 90 days, it could be an iterative process, which could draw out past that. We will, of course, keep you updated." Staff said they will share implementation guidance after the department responds.
On assessments, staff reported the board approved the RISE ELA cut scores. Staff member 1 said the board "RISE ELA cut scores were approved by the board" but noted additional technical detail still under discussion: board members asked for the raw score range and that material was not yet finalized for distribution. Staff indicated the technical advisory committee and test vendor continued to exchange emails about the raw-score ranges and that a follow-up memo would be distributed when numbers were finalized.
Why it matters: ESSA plan changes can alter accountability measures, reporting and long-range targets. Approval by the board begins internal implementation steps; final authority for plan changes rests with the U.S. Department of Education. Implementation of new cut scores will affect schools' reported proficiency rates when the scores are used in public reporting.
USBE staff listed two near-term tasks: (1) monitor the Department of Education response to the ESSA amendment and notify districts when a final decision is received; (2) publish the raw-score ranges and a memo on the RISE ELA cut scores once the technical advisory committee finalizes them. No formal federal response had been received during the meeting.
