The Every Student Succeeds Act: Law Explained

When it comes to understanding education laws, most would agree that the details can be complex for parents, teachers, and administrators.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) aims to simplify some aspects of education policy, while still holding schools accountable for student success.

This article will explain ESSA in clear terms - from its background and main goals, to key provisions around testing, standards, and support for disadvantaged students. You'll gain insight into how ESSA shifts control to states, what it means for your school, and how it seeks to help every student succeed.

Introduction to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a US education law passed in 2015 that replaced the previous No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). ESSA shifts accountability systems from the federal level to state and local levels, giving states more flexibility in setting goals and standards while still requiring them to intervene in low-performing schools.

Background and Purpose of ESSA

The ESSA was designed to provide more equal opportunities in education and help prepare all students for college and careers after graduation. Some of the political background that led to the bipartisan support for ESSA includes:

Criticism that NCLB overemphasized standardized testing performance and strict federal accountability.
Desire for states and local districts to have more control over school improvement strategies.
Need to update the law to address changes in education over the past decade.

The main purposes of ESSA are to:

Empower state and local decision-making in education policy.
Focus more on lowest-performing schools and student groups.
Support evidence-based interventions to improve student outcomes.
Enhance well-rounded education with STEM, arts, music etc.

Key Provisions of ESSA

Some of the key components of the Every Student Succeeds Act include:

Testing: Annual statewide assessments are still required in math, reading, and science. Testing is focused on grades 3-8 and once in high school.

Standards: States decide on their own challenging academic standards. Standards must align with college and career readiness.

School Report Cards: States and districts issue report cards on specific schools every year, including info on academics, environment, resources, and more.

Literacy Programs: New federal grants available for evidence-based early literacy programs, especially for disadvantaged students.

Special Education: Dedicated funding to support students with disabilities and early intervention services.

State Implementation Plans

Under ESSA, each state must submit a detailed plan outlining its accountability system, goals, support for struggling schools, and more. These plans require approval by the U.S. Department of Education.

The process includes opportunities for public comment to help shape the priorities and strategies laid out in state plans. Stakeholders like teachers, parents and students can provide input on issues like standards, assessments, school ratings, and improvement efforts.

So far, all 50 states have had their ESSA implementation plans approved. States will periodically review and revise their plans based on updated data and community feedback.

What is the Every Student Succeeds Act in simple terms?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a US law passed in 2015 that replaced the previous No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Here are some key things to know about ESSA in simple terms:

It shifts accountability for student success from the federal government to states and local school districts. States now have more flexibility in setting goals and standards for students.
It still requires annual testing in math and reading in grades 3-8 and once in high school. Schools need to report test scores and other data publicly so parents can compare schools.
It aims to advance equity for disadvantaged students. Schools need to focus more on groups like special education, low-income, minorities to ensure they get the help they need.
Funding is still tied to accountability. But states have more say in interventions and reforms for underperforming schools. There is less focus on consequences like school closures under ESSA.
Importance is given to evidence-based interventions to improve student outcomes. Funding can be used for programs that have demonstrated effectiveness through research.
It pushes states to take a more holistic approach to judging school quality. Beyond test scores, states can now incorporate other factors like school climate and safety, access to advanced coursework, and chronic absenteeism.

In essence, ESSA gives states more ownership over education policy while keeping focus on equity and evidence-based reforms to drive better student outcomes. The federal role has reduced but funding and accountability are still tied to advance equity and quality in schools.

What are the main points of ESSA?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) focuses on ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success after high school. Here are some of the main points:

Challenging Academic Standards: ESSA requires states to have "challenging" standards in reading, math, and science to ensure students are prepared for college and careers. These standards aim to be robust and relevant to the real world.
Annual Testing: Students are still required to take statewide standardized tests in grades 3-8 and once in high school. These tests provide data to identify schools in need of support.
School Accountability: Schools must measure academic progress through indicators like test scores, graduation rates, and English language proficiency. Underperforming schools receive support.
More State and Local Control: States and districts have more control over school accountability systems and reform strategies. The federal role is less prescriptive.
Supporting Struggling Schools: Schools in the bottom 5% in terms of performance must implement evidence-based interventions for improvement.
Supporting Excellent Teachers: ESSA maintains a focus on teacher development and training to strengthen the workforce.

In summary, ESSA aims to provide an equal opportunity for all students while allowing states flexibility in standards, testing, accountability, and more. The focus is on college/career readiness and evidence-based interventions to help struggling schools.

What is the key provision of the Every Student Succeeds Act?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) made a major change from its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), by shifting accountability systems from the federal government to the state level.

One of the key provisions of ESSA is that it repealed the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) rules that were mandated under NCLB. The AYP rules required all schools and districts to meet standardized test score targets that steadily increased each year in order to demonstrate improvement. Schools that failed to meet AYP faced strict federal interventions and sanctions.

Under ESSA, the federal AYP rules and standardized test score targets have been eliminated. Instead, each state must develop their own systems for holding schools accountable and intervening in low performing schools. States have greater flexibility to incorporate factors beyond just test scores, such as student growth, graduation rates, English language proficiency and school quality/student success indicators.

By shifting to state-defined accountability systems, ESSA aims to provide more customized school improvement measures tailored to each state's specific needs and student populations. However, the law still requires states to prioritize improving outcomes for disadvantaged subgroups of students.

In summary, ESSA's repeal of federal AYP requirements in favor of state accountability systems is a major change intended to promote localized solutions for supporting student success. States now have greater control but also greater responsibility for ensuring all students receive a quality education.

What is the ultimate goal of Every Student Succeeds Act?

The main purpose of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is to ensure that public schools provide a quality education for all students, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged students.

ESSA gives states more control over accountability systems and interventions for underperforming schools. The law also aims to provide more flexibility around things like teacher evaluations and funding allocations.

At its core, ESSA seeks to:

Ensure all students have equal access to a high-quality education that prepares them for college and careers
Close persistent achievement gaps between disadvantaged students and their peers
Support and grow local innovations in the classroom

The law maintains annual statewide assessments and requires states to intervene in the lowest-performing 5% of schools. However, ESSA gives states flexibility around setting goals, determining their own accountability systems, and implementing evidence-based interventions to improve student outcomes.

In short, while keeping some federal guardrails in place, ESSA returns more control over education policy back to the state and local levels. Its overarching goal is to create an equitable education system that sets all students up for success.

Understanding State Academic Standards under ESSA

Statewide Testing and Accountability

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to administer annual assessments in math, reading/language arts, and science. These statewide tests are used to measure students' academic progress and hold schools accountable for results.

Under ESSA, states must:

Test students annually in grades 3-8 and once in high school in math, reading/ELA, and science.
Report scores for student subgroups, including race, income, disability status, and English learners.
Identify the lowest performing 5% of schools as well as high schools with low graduation rates for "targeted support".

States have flexibility around setting performance goals for schools, determining consequences for underperformance, and designing school improvement strategies.

Alternate Assessments and Accommodations

ESSA requires states to provide alternate assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. These alternate tests are aligned with state academic standards but modified to appropriately measure the achievement of special student populations.

States must also establish guidelines for providing testing accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners. Common accommodations include extended time, translated test directions, and text-to-speech. Accommodations provide students equal access to state assessments without fundamentally altering what tests aim to measure.

Setting and Meeting Academic Standards

Under ESSA, each state continues to have the authority to adopt challenging academic standards in reading, math, and science. States measure school performance against their state standards.

States must demonstrate in their state plans how their standards prepare graduates for college and careers. While standards must align with credit-bearing college coursework, ESSA prohibits federal influence over standards and assessments.

Supporting Special Education through ESSA

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) aims to provide increased support and resources for students with disabilities. ESSA includes provisions to help ensure students with disabilities have access to high-quality education and are fully included in state accountability systems.

Funding and Resources for Special Education

ESSA authorizes funding to support students with disabilities, including:

Title I funding can be used to support special education services aligned to a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Schools have flexibility in how they use these funds.
States must reserve 7% of their Title I allotment specifically for school improvement activities, which can include supporting students with disabilities.
ESSA promotes a "well-rounded education" including programs to improve access and outcomes for students with disabilities.

States and districts are encouraged to leverage ESSA funding to enhance resources and support for special education.

Inclusive Assessment and Accountability

Under ESSA, states must include students with disabilities in their standardized assessments and accountability systems. Specific requirements include:

Most students with disabilities take the general statewide assessments, perhaps with accommodations outlined in their IEP.
Alternate assessments are available for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
States must cap alternate assessment participation rates at 1% of all students.
Students with disabilities are included in measures of academic achievement and graduation rates for accountability.

This ensures students with disabilities are fully represented within school and state report cards and accountability metrics.

Collaboration with the National Center for Learning Disabilities

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) provides ESSA implementation resources for supporting students with disabilities, such as:

Guidebooks on inclusive accountability systems, evidence-based interventions, and more.
Webinars and reports detailing states' progress in meeting ESSA requirements.
Technical assistance for states seeking to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

States are encouraged to collaborate with NCLD to ensure proper ESSA implementation for students with disabilities. Overall, ESSA provides an opportunity to enhance inclusion, accountability, and support for special education.

Addressing Literacy and Chronic Absenteeism

Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) places an emphasis on supporting evidence-based literacy instruction to help improve reading skills. ESSA requires schools to use literacy programs and teaching methods that have demonstrated effectiveness through rigorous research. This is aimed at providing the best possible reading instruction to students.

ESSA specifically highlights the role of the National Center on Improving Literacy in providing resources and support around evidence-based reading instruction. Schools can turn to this center for guidance on selecting proven literacy programs, implementing effective methods like phonics instruction and reading comprehension strategies, and training teachers on scientifically-validated best practices. Adopting programs backed by research ensures students get high-quality reading instruction.

Tackling Chronic Absenteeism

In addition to emphasizing strong literacy instruction, ESSA also newly requires schools to pay attention to chronic absenteeism rates as a key indicator in their accountability systems and school report cards.

Chronic absenteeism refers to students missing a significant amount of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused. This could involve things like frequent illnesses, transportation challenges, homelessness, or other issues that prevent students from attending school regularly.

Under ESSA, schools must specifically track and report chronic absenteeism rates. They also must implement evidence-based plans to reduce absenteeism through things like mentoring programs, school climate initiatives, or community partnerships. Lowering chronic absenteeism ensures fewer students fall behind academically due to missing too many days of instruction.

Universal Design for Learning

ESSA encourages states and schools to promote the use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to help teachers meet the needs of all students. UDL focuses on flexible instructional methods, materials, and assessments that support diverse learning styles and abilities from the outset.

For example, options like text-to-speech for reading materials, graphic organizers for writing assignments, and multiple testing formats allow students to demonstrate their skills in ways aligned to their needs and strengths. Incorporating UDL principles helps schools provide truly personalized learning to ensure no students fall through the cracks. This benefits all students while also supporting those with learning differences.

Strengthening Early Learning and Preschool Programs

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) aims to strengthen early childhood education and support high-quality preschool programs. This section analyzes ESSA's key provisions for early learning and their potential impact.

Funding and Support for Early Learning

ESSA authorizes funding through Title II for states and districts to increase access to preschool programs. These funds can be used to support preschool teacher training, purchase equipment, and improve transitions from preschool to kindergarten. States must use evidence-based practices and align assessments between early childhood education and K-12.

ESSA also includes a new authorization for the Preschool Development Grants program which provides funding for states to expand preschool access for low- and moderate-income families. Grants support coordination, quality improvement, and broadening service delivery models.

Alignment with K-12 Education

A key focus in ESSA is improving alignment between early childhood and K-12 state academic standards. States must develop plans detailing how they will assist in transitions from preschool to elementary school. Better vertical alignment aims to reduce gaps in expectations and achievement as children progress through school.

Promoting Access and Equity in Preschool

ESSA pushes states to expand access to high-quality preschool for all students, particularly those from low-income families, students with disabilities, and English language learners. Funding can be used to increase enrollment capacities and improve equitable access through additional transportation services and targeted outreach.

Overall, ESSA's early childhood provisions strive to enhance preschool quality and alignment while promoting access and equity - laying critical foundations for long-term student success.

FAQs: Transitioning to the ESSA

Understanding the Transition Process

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed in December 2015 to replace the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Here are some key things to know about the transition process:

States were required to submit ESSA transition plans to the Department of Education in 2017. These plans detailed how states would change their accountability systems, standards, assessments, and more to align with ESSA requirements.
Most states have now fully transitioned from NCLB to ESSA accountability systems. A few states received extensions on their transition timelines.
During the transition period in 2017-2018, states still had to meet NCLB requirements around standards, assessments, accountability, etc. while simultaneously planning for ESSA implementation.
The Department of Education provided guidance and support to states on developing strong, compliant ESSA plans. They approved state plans on a rolling basis through early 2018.
States have more flexibility under ESSA around setting goals, indicators, and responses for schools compared to the more rigid NCLB structure. But ESSA still maintains requirements around testing, reporting, and supporting struggling schools.

Impact on Current Academic Programs

The transition from NCLB to ESSA does not inherently require most existing state or district academic programs and initiatives to start over. Here is how the shift impacted various programs:

Standards: Most states retained their existing state standards during the transition. ESSA still requires challenging state academic standards but gives more state control over setting standards.
Assessments: Most states maintained their current testing systems under ESSA. Some states had to make minor tweaks to ensure their tests align with state standards.
Accountability: School rating systems and accountability processes had to be reworked to fit ESSA requirements around indicators, goals, and more. But supporting programs tied to accountability should largely stay the same.
Interventions: States and districts still must support struggling Title I schools with evidence-based interventions. ESSA emphasizes personalized improvement strategies tailored to each school’s needs.

So while accountability processes shifted under ESSA, research-based academic supports and programs should have remained consistent in most cases. The core focus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged students stays central under ESSA.

Role of Your State’s Department of Education

Under ESSA transition requirements, State Departments of Education played a lead role by:

Developing an ESSA state plan detailing their new accountability system, standards, assessments, supports for struggling schools, and more.
Seeking extensive input from parents, teachers, community groups and other stakeholders on the state plan through public comment periods.
Formally submitting the state plan to the U.S. Department of Education for approval after making revisions based on public feedback.
Implementing the state ESSA plan upon approval, and communicating changes to districts as they transition from NCLB to ESSA.
Continuing to monitor federal education law compliance, oversee state assessments, publish school report cards and provide guidance to districts on ESSA requirements.

So State Departments of Education served as the driver in collaboratively developing and transitioning state policy to the new ESSA era. They continue playing a key oversight and support role for districts under ESSA. Check your state's education department website to learn more about their ESSA transition process and current programs.

Key Takeaways

ESSA made several key changes compared to the previous No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB):

Increased State Control

States have more flexibility in setting accountability systems, academic standards, and testing regimes. They can incorporate multiple academic and non-academic measures into accountability.
States can create their own teacher evaluation systems and school improvement strategies instead of following federal requirements.

More Holistic Accountability

Accountability systems can now include multiple indicators like academic growth, graduation rates, English language proficiency, and school quality/student success measures. This allows for more well-rounded evaluation.
There is less focus on hitting testing targets and more focus on general improvement and progress. Schools have more options to demonstrate success.

Targeted School Interventions

Struggling schools are identified for comprehensive, evidence-based interventions rather than just sanctions.
States must have systems to improve lowest 5% of schools, high schools with low graduation rates, and schools where subgroups are consistently underperforming over time. Intervention strategies are tailored to local needs.

In summary, ESSA shifts accountability and school improvement decisions to the state and local levels. The federal role is less prescriptive, but states now have more responsibilities in designing and executing customized, evidence-based strategies to elevate student outcomes.

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