About ED OFFICES
District of Columbia P3 Letter

Date: February 22, 2013

The Honorable Hosanna Mahaley
State Superintendent of Education
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
District of Columbia Public Schools
810 First Street, NE
9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20002

Dear Superintendent Mahaley:

I am pleased to inform you that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has determined that the District of Columbia’s guidelines for teacher and principal evaluation and support systems, and the corresponding changes made to Principle 3 of its approved ESEA flexibility request, meet the requirements for Principle 3 articulated in ED’s September 23, 2011, document titled ESEA Flexibility.

During the week of July 16, 2012, two peer experts reviewed the District of Columbia’s guidelines. Staff from ED also reviewed the District of Columbia’s submission as well as the changes the District of Columbia made to its guidelines and to Principle 3 of its request in response to the feedback provided following the July peer review. The determination that the District of Columbia’s guidelines meet the requirements of Principle 3 is based on these reviews and the changes the District of Columbia made in response to that feedback. I congratulate you on submitting guidelines and a process for ensuring that each district in the District of Columbia develops, adopts, pilots, and implements teacher and principal evaluation and support systems consistent with those guidelines, both of which reaffirm the District of Columbia’s commitment to improving academic achievement and the quality of instruction for all of the State’s elementary and secondary school students.

The District of Columbia’s complete request for ESEA flexibility has already been fully approved through the 2013–2014 school year. In the meantime, ED will continue to monitor the District of Columbia’s implementation of ESEA flexibility, including the development and piloting of evaluation and support systems consistent with the District of Columbia’s guidelines. While ED understands and expects that the District of Columbia may make changes to its guidelines as a result of ongoing development and piloting efforts, the District of Columbia should ensure that any such changes are consistent with Principle 3 of ESEA flexibility by consulting with ED. Depending on the nature and extent of such changes, the District of Columbia may need to submit a request to amend its approved ESEA flexibility request. If you have any questions regarding the amendment process or anything else related to the District of Columbia’s implementation of ESEA flexibility, please contact Sue Rigney at 202-260-0931 or sue.rigney@ed.gov

A copy of the District of Columbia’s approved request for ESEA flexibility, including its guidelines for teacher and principal evaluation and support systems, as well as the revised Principle 3, will be posted on ED’s web site at: www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.html. Again, I congratulate you on developing guidelines for teacher and principal evaluation and support systems that meet the requirements of ESEA flexibility and thank you for the work that you and your staff have done. I look forward to continuing to support the State as you implement the District of Columbia’s ESEA flexibility request and work to improve the quality of instruction and academic achievement for all students.

Sincerely,

/s/

Deborah S. Delisle

cc: Kayleen Irrizarry, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Secondary Education


 
Print this page Printable view Bookmark  and Share
Last Modified: 10/22/2013