The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) seeks applicants to join a collaborative network of state boards of education dedicated to the implementation of a leadership model for a standards-based education system. The “Leading a Standards-Based System: Alignment Policy to Standards Stipend” initiative expands NASBE’s mission to strengthen the capacity of state boards of education to create a public education system that prepares every student for college, career, and citizenship through tightly aligned policies and processes. All state boards of education who are members of NASBE are eligible to apply for a stipend of up to $30,000 over two years.

Nearly all states and territories have adopted high-quality learning standards for students, which are most commonly referred to as College and Career Readiness Standards. Yet, most states have not aligned ancillary policies that are essential to the successful implementation of those standards in a comprehensive and cohesive manner. For state boards of education to lead a truly standards-based system, they must be intentional in aligning and integrating standards-related policies.

NASBE’s primary approach to creating and leading an authentic standards-based state education system is to outline a simple yet comprehensive process to enable states to accomplish that outcome. Working with a select group of strategically chosen Network States that are focused on the evaluation, revision, and adoption of standards and related policies and are committed to putting those standards at the center of strategic planning and standards-related decision making, NASBE will move those states from the standards adoption phase into one of policy alignment and integration that results in a true standards-based leadership model.

The purpose of this stipend initiative is to establish a network of five to eight states to collaboratively work to fully align policies and processes as outlined in the NASBE Framework for Standards-Based Leadership over a for a two-year period. While each Network State will differ slightly in the pace and scope of the stipend initiative, all stipend recipients will employ the following strategies:

  1. Assessment of Standards Adoption: Network states will conduct an assessment to ascertain the appropriateness of the current learning standards prior to embarking on the alignment of ancillary policies.  This process will vary among network states and will be individualized as needed utilizing the NASBE Standards Review Tool.
  2. Utilization of the Policy Audit Toolkit and Process: Each Network State will use the policy audit toolkit as a means to conduct a policy audit, establish one to three priority policy areas, and identify policy decisions/revisions to be undertaken over the course of two years. The work will be guided by the state leadership, with technical assistance and guidance from NASBE staff and relevant content experts. Each Network State will produce deliverable outcomes, as outlined in the audit, and will participate in a final evaluation of the toolkit prior to its publication and dissemination to other SBEs.
  3. Development and Deployment of a Work Plan: Based on the results of the standards review and policy audit, Network states will develop and deploy a two-year actionable work plan to guide the policy review and alignment process in two to three key priority areas.
  4. Evaluating and Revising Policy: Based on the results of the policy audit, states will take official board action to make policy revisions in the key priority areas as outlined in the agreed-upon work plan.
  5. Communicating Effectively: Network states will utilize a web-based communications platform to collaborate and communicate with NASBE staff and fellow stipend recipients.
  6. Strengthening Partnerships: Network states will work collaboratively with other state agencies, organizations, and entities throughout this process to strengthen communication exchange ideas at all levels.
  7. Collaborate Across the Network: Network states attend two or three convenings and participate in regular virtual discussions and webinars in order to foster collaboration among network states and NASBE.

Read more about the “Leading a Standards-Based System: Alignment Policy to Standards Stipend” initiative and instructions for applying. All proposals are due to NASBE by 5:00 p.m. EDT, Friday, September 4, 2015, and are to be sent to robert.hull@nasbe.org.