CLEVELAND, Ohio - A group of local superintendents and other educators questioned Monday the Ohio Department of Education's avoidance of any real changes the public sought in its proposed state education plan under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The group of 10 superintendents, mostly from Lorain County, said in a joint letter Monday that residents made it clear in a series of public meetings and surveys late last year that they wanted less testing of students, changes to state report cards and more stable expectations from year to year.

That feedback was supposed to help the department create a new testing and accountability plan to replace the old federal mandates and repercussions of the No Child Left Behind law.

But the state's proposed plan makes none of the changes the public wanted, other than to skip them in the name of providing stability. The proposal differs little from what the state does now. 

"Ohio had a chance to make some significant reductions to testing," the letter states. "Ohio's educators, parents, students and other constituents waited patiently for Ohio's interpretation and plans for implementing a more flexible and locally controlled accountability system that the ESSA permitted."

It addded: "At its core, Ohio's plan does not address nor incorporate the flexibility that was provided through the shift from NCLB to ESSA," the letter reads.

Jim Lloyd, superintendent of the Olmsted Falls school district and a leader of the group despite representing a Cuyahoga County district, was more blunt, calling the state plan "No Child Left Behind version 2.0."

"They got a mouthful of what the public wanted, which was a reduction in assessments and that's not in there at all," Lloyd said. "I don't get it. I just don't."

Superintendents signing the letter were from the Amherst, Avon, Clearview, Columbia Station, Elyria, Keystone, North Olmsted, Oberlin, Olmsted Falls,. They were also joined by officials from the Berea and Wellington school districts.

The group plans to have a public forum Feb 22 to share information about the state's plan and gather more feedback. The 7 p.m. forum will be at Avon High School, 37545 Detroit Rd.

Check back soon for a look at the changes the local educators want made in the plan. 

Or look below for the group's letter. 

Click here for more about the state's proposed plan, which is scheduled to be sent to the U.S. Department of Education for approval by April 3.

ODE officials said earlier this week that submission of the plan is not the end of the state's review of its accountability plan.

They have also noted that it is not simple to eliminate testing, even to the minimum required by federal law. Several tests students take now are mandated by state law and would need law changes to eliminate them.

A special task force is also reviewing the state's test score requirements for high school students to graduate. That panel's recommendations,  which could prompt more testing changes, is not due until mid-April.

Some state school board members are also uneasy with how few changes the plan makes. They questioned State Superintendent Paolo Demaria Monday about the unresolved testing issues in the plan, asking if  the state could wait until September to submit a more complete plan, as allowed under the law.

 The U.S. Department of Education will have more guidance on March 13  for states about how their plans should look. A delay would also allow the state legislature to make any testing changes 

Board member Stephanie Dodd said after the meeting that she may ask the board to vote next month for a delay.

"I don't know the need for the rush," Dodd said.

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