In December 2015, President Obama signed off on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a key piece of federal education legislation which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) eight years overdue. Currently the U.S. Department of Education is interpreting the law and if their timeline moves as anticipated, draft regulations will post this spring. State Plans must be developed in compliance with ESSA, and approved by the U.S. Department of Education, in order to be implemented in the 2017-18 school year.

To date, the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has developed a timeline, draft work plan, and key stakeholder groups in response to the new legislation. Included in this timeline are public hearings scheduled around the state by DPI to assist staff in drafting the state’s plan. Educators, parents, students and other stakeholders are invited to attend these public comment sessions.

We encourage you to attend a session near you (all sessions are 4 – 6 p.m.):

• Wednesday, April 13: Ashley High School, 555 Halyburton Memorial Parkway, Wilmington
• Thursday, April 21: Green Hope High School, 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road, Cary
• Tuesday, April 26: Mallard Creed High School, 3825 Johnston Center Road, Charlotte
• Wednesday, April 27: North Pitt High School, 5659 NC Highway, Bethel
• Tuesday, May 17: East Forsyth High School, 2500 W. Mountain Street, Kernersville
• Wednesday, May 18: Charles D. Owen High School, 99 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain

We welcome any feedback from the hearings from our members. The NC Chamber will remain engaged as the State Plan is developed to help ensure our students continue to have access to premier education opportunities that prepare them to thrive in the modern workforce. We will keep you updated throughout this process as the state responds to the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
North Carolina Chamber