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Toolkit

ESSA Engagement: Conversation Starters for Educators

Use these Conversation Starters to engage others in conversation, or for public forums like school board meetings, PTA meetings, or local union meetings.
NEA members with ESSA sign NEA
NEA members have a blast at an ESSA town hall.
Published: April 2020

The National Education Association’s ESSA Conversation Starters help educators talk with colleagues and others about how ESSA will impact classrooms and students. They include key points and make it easy for others to get involved.

The ESSA conversation starters focus on eight issues: 

  1. Educator Voice
  2. School Improvement
  3. School Climate
  4. Professional Development
  5. Equity
  6. Testing
  7. Teacher Evaluation
  8. Stakeholder Engagement

Educators can customize these cards and share their story when speaking in a public forum such as a school board meeting, PTA meeting, or local union meeting. The cards also contain suggestions for sharing this information through social media to engage educators and other stakeholders and ensure that each and every student has an opportunity for success.

Download the cards and start making a difference today!

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National Education Association

Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.