By and large, the selection and funding for instructional materials and assessments occurs at the state and local level. However, a variety of federal programs under the Elementary and Secondary Act (most recently amended by the No Child Left Behind Act) also provide some funding for instructional activities, materials, and assessments.
AAP Priorities for ESEA Reauthorization
The AAP School Division and its members strongly support the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Members of the AAP School Division are the nation’s leading developers of educational materials, technology-based curricula, and assessments. The instructional programs, services, and assessments developed by AAP members play a critically important role in Federal education programs.
1. Instructional Materials Access & Opportunity: Textbooks and other instructional materials (IM) are the primary learning tools in the classroom. Unfortunately, many students lack the materials they need to learn, and less than 1% of education funding is spent on instructional materials. Steps must be taken to ensure equity, and principals and teachers must have the resources to support student success. Without such resources, students have no real opportunity to learn and meet academic goals. AAP recommends that every child should be provided with up-to-date instructional materials. In addition, state and district report cards should provide information on availability of instructional materials.
2. Resources to Support the Implementation of Common Core State Standards: AAP and its members support the voluntary Common Core State Standards Initiative and the resources necessary for the teaching and learning of those standards. The transition to Common Core State Standards will require continued close partnerships to address evolving needs for aligned high-quality curriculum, instructional materials, classroom technologies, and assessments. AAP also recommends additional federal investments in instructional resources that will help prepare high school students to meet college and career readiness goals. Federal investments at the secondary level should complement -- not reduce -- federal K-12 funding.
3. Strengthened & Expanded Assessment Systems for Improved Teaching and Learning: Annual assessments provide teachers and parents with the information they need to make sound decisions regarding the education of students. ESEA reauthorization presents the opportunity for Congress to support balanced assessment systems with multiple assessments to accomplish multiple purposes. These purposes include: summative assessment for federal and state accountability, interim/benchmark tests that predict performance on summative assessments while providing diagnostic and benchmark/progress monitoring, and interim and formative assessments that assist teachers with timely information to improve targeted instruction. In addition, AAP recommends that Congress:
- Maintain fundamental requirements of accountability and the use of valid and reliable assessments and intervention tools.
- Continue funding to update state testing systems, improve assessment for special needs and ELL students, and enhance data systems to enable reporting growth toward attaining standards and parental involvement.
- Authorize formative and interim assessments for federal funding.
- Fund expanded state and district data systems to enable teachers to use formative and summative assessment information to improve instruction.
4. Comprehensive Reading Program: AAP recommends renewed federal efforts for a comprehensive pre-K-12 literacy initiative that features reading and writing programs at all grade levels, support for state literacy plans, and funding for school districts for self-defined literacy needs.
5. Expand Math & Science Programs: New investments must be made in math and science if the U.S. is to remain competitive. In particular, AAP recommends that Congress authorize and fund intervention programs, instructional materials (digital & print), and professional development services.
6. Leverage Technology: Target investment in technology to support educator capacity, personalize instruction and create real-time assessments. Broadband expansion is critical and we urge Congress to consider these needs in conjunction with reauthorization considerations. AAP members continue to make significant investments in digital instruction and online assessments. We have considerable experience in the effectiveness and use of new technological tools and believe we can add to the discussion on how best to transition toward these new goals.
7. Teacher Quality: We believe one of the best ways to improve teacher quality is to train teachers and teaching candidates how to use technology and data to inform instruction and better utilize instructional materials and assessments. Teachers and teaching candidates should receive direct and intensive training on how to utilize instructional materials and assessments to the benefit of students with various learning needs.
For additional information contact: Jay Diskey, Executive Director of AAP’s School Division 202/220-4549, jdiskey@publishers.org