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ESSA’s Fifth Indicator: A NASBE Policy Update Series


The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) paved the way for states to create holistic accountability systems that measure school quality and student success by means other than academic test scores. States incorporated a variety of “fifth indicators” in state plans they submitted this spring for review by the U.S. Department of Education, while others are weighing which indicators to include in their fall submission.

This NASBE policy update series explores the pros and cons of five frequently discussed indicators. It highlights what states have proposed in their ESSA plans so far and offers key considerations for state boards that are refining their plans for September submission.

From this series:

Career and Technical Education
School Climate and Student Discipline
Social and Emotional Learning
Chronic Absenteeism
Access to High-Level Course Work


Career and Technical Education

School Climate and School Discipline

Social and Emotional Learning

Chronic Absenteeism

Accessing High-Level Coursework





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State education leaders can foster children’s mental health by increasing families’ preparedness and awareness of available resources and activities.

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Authors explore the reasons why students increasingly feel uninspired and disengaged at school and outline steps state leaders can take to help schools and districts increase students’ engagement and connectedness.
Image Credit: iStock i

Beyond Testing for Lead in Drinking Water: Implications for Funding

While most states encourage or require schools to test for lead in drinking water, funding to sustain remediation lags—despite significant federal grants designed to boost those efforts.

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