Monica Almond

Monica Almond, PhD, joined All4Ed in April 2013 and leads its work on Perkins reauthorization, career and technical education, college- and career-pathways systems, and state high school graduation requirements. Dr. Almond works with school districts, state education leaders, and federal policymakers to provide policy analyses and counsel on a range of issues related to high school reform. She often serves as a liaison between the classroom and state and federal policymakers to better inform the development of state and federal policy.
Prior to joining All4Ed, Dr. Almond worked in higher education for six years and as an independent educational consultant guiding historically underserved families through the process of college and career selection.

Dr. Almond graduated from Howard University (DC) with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in education policy, evaluation, and reform from Claremont Graduate University (CA).

AAPF19 Session

ESSA Flexibility – Join the Conversation About What’s Working and What’s Not

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states have identified over 2,000 high schools for comprehensive support and improvement, including over 1,000 alternative schools. These schools have been identified for support because they have a graduation rate below 67 percent. Knowing that students in alternative schools face unique challenges and often require additional supports, in comparison with students in traditional comprehensive high schools, the law allows flexibility regarding the improvement activities implemented in schools that predominantly serve youth who are returning to education after having left high school without a diploma, or who are over-aged and under-credited.
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Has your school been identified for support? How is this flexibility being implemented in your state? What policy recommendations would you like states to adopt to more effectively serve at-promise youth in alternative schools? What are some promising approaches to improving student performance in alternative high schools that you’ve seen implemented? The Alliance for Excellent Education will facilitate a discussion among session participants regarding these questions and others pertaining to the implementation of ESSA and how it impacts alternative schools. Note: This session willnot feature a typical panel presentation; rather, it will be a group discussion. Come ready to engage in robust dialogue, share stories of what works, and propose your policy solutions!