NATIONAL ASSOCATION OF STATE DIRECTORS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION (NASDSE)
BILL EAST, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Over the past decade, the focus on subgroup reporting under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act has fostered a new understanding that schools and school districts need to focus on the progress of ALL students for their schools to be successful. That is a powerful message that the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) supports. I am pleased that the National Center on Educational Outcomes has gathered stories of the five districts featured on its Moving Your Numbers website that provide concrete examples of how successful districts have improved achievement for all of their students, including those with disabilities. We encourage special educators to these stories for their practical strategies and inspiration that can help schools and districts "move the numbers" to ensure that all students are successful.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO
RANDI WEINGARTEN, PRESIDENT
Since 1916, AFT has worked to continually strengthen teacher quality, promote higher standards and better ways of gauging student learning, and implement classroom and school improvements. With more than 1.5 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide, AFT provides leadership in the ongoing development of pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school-related personnel. AFT also helps local and state affiliates lead the way in facilitating the kind of systemic reform described in Moving Your Numbers. The districts featured in this cutting-edge work understand that while teachers are integral to student learning, a “360-degree” accountability system is needed – one that holds all adults at every level of the system accountable for student achievement. In Moving Your Numbers, districts describe how intentional and aligned actions at the district, school, and teacher team levels resulted in greater coherence and quality of instructional practice across the district. We applaud the National Center on Educational Outcomes for providing these very real examples of districts that, despite widely varying demographics and economic situations, have demonstrated that it is possible to improve achievement for all students, including those identified as students with disabilities, when professionals set high expectations and work together to reach them.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BOARDS OF EDUCATION (NASBE)
JIM KOLHMOOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Common Core standards is a significant and historic state-reform movement that provides students with clearer and consistent expectations nationwide. With this in mind, the National Center on Educational Outcomes delivered Moving Your Numbers. This critical work can inform the work of state education policymakers by sharing best practices from districts that took steps to focus their work, and promote shared instructional practices that make a difference for all students. NASBE stands with the National Center on Educational Outcomes in highlighting the work of districts that have demonstrated it is possible to improve achievement for all students.
