Helena High School has been chosen by the State Department of Education as one of eight host locations for their upcoming Community Engagement Tour to highlight the new Every Student Succeeds Act.

The ESSA, which has replaced  the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law, encourages states and schools to innovate and at the same time maintain a focus on accountability, an emphasis on state and local systems of improvement, and a more balanced assessment system. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Community Engagement Tour will highlight the benefits to Alabama public school students and professionals as well as detail how ESSA will complement Alabama’s Plan 2020.

Members of the Every Student Succeeds Act Implementation Committee will provide an overview of ESSA, which continues to build upon the framework the Alabama State Department of Education has established for preparing Alabama’s students for college or career upon graduation from high school. Appointed by Governor Robert Bentley, the committee is comprised of educators, lawmakers, school board members and parent advocates. Upon conclusion of the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to ESSA Implementation Committee members on how Alabama can develop a more equitable K-12 public education system. The committee’s work will continue throughout 2016, culminating with a final recommendation made to Governor Bentley, followed by a vote of the Alabama State Board of Education.

The Every Student Succeeds Act Community Engagement Tour will be hosted at eight school systems throughout the state. All tour stops will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 7 p.m., followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

Dates and locations are as follows:

• August 9: Montgomery County Schools – Carver High School – 2001 W. Fairview Ave., Montgomery, AL 36108
• August 16: Auburn City Schools – Auburn High School Performing Arts Center – 405 S. Dean Road, Auburn, AL 36830
• August 18: Shelby County Schools – Helena High School – 1310 Hillsboro Parkway, Helena, AL 35080
• August 23: Birmingham City Schools – Parker High School – 400 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL, 35204
• August 25: Mobile County Schools – Davidson High School – 3900 Pleasant Valley Road, Mobile, AL 36609
• September 6: Huntsville City Schools – The Academy for Academics and Arts – 4800 Sparkman Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35810
• September 13: Tuscaloosa City Schools – Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy – 2800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

To learn more about ESSA, visit the Every Student Succeeds Act page on the Alabama State Department of Education website, the Every Student Succeeds Act Implementation Committee page. Follow the ESSA Community Engagement Tour on Twitter at #ESSAAlabama.