Six Flathead Valley educators and administrators have been appointed to Office of Public Instruction work groups to help develop Montana’s education accountability systems in response to the newly authorized education law known as Every Student Succeeds Act.

The following local people have been appointed to the work groups: Evergreen School District Superintendent Laurie Barron, West Valley School fifth- through eighth-grade Principal Tina Blair, Libby School District Curriculum, Special Education and Federal Programs Director Kaide Dodson, Kalispell Middle School English teacher and department chair Dana Haring, Kalispell Public Schools Federal Projects Director Chris Bilant and Columbia Falls School District Business Manager Dustin Zuffelato.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau appointed 33 educators, parents and district trustees to the work groups to help develop a state plan.

The state’s accountability system must establish “ambitious” long-term goals and include measures of “interim progress for all students and subgroups.”

While annual standardized testing remains a component of the Every Student Succeeds Act as a measurement of achievement, states will decide how test results are used for accountability purposes and what, if any, sanctions there will be. States will also be able to choose other measures of student success.

The Every Student Succeeds Act takes effect in the 2017-18 school year. It replaces No Child Left Behind, which was criticized for its one-size-fits-all accountability stipulations and sanctions.

The groups start meeting this month and wrap up in mid-July. They brings to the table a cross-section of backgrounds from administrators, teachers, school board trustees and parents from around the state who were contacted by the Office of Public Instruction and decided to apply.

Barron, who also serves as president of the Montana Association of School Superintendents, is excited to be part of developing Montana’s accountability system under the Every Child Succeeds Act.

“I’ve always been passionate for doing what’s better for kids and am happy to have a voice at the table,” Barron said. “I’m happy that each state gets to do this.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].