The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a U.S. law enacted in 2015 that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act and aims to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education. ESSA emphasizes the importance of equal opportunity, accountability, and support for struggling schools while allowing states more flexibility in setting their educational standards and assessment systems.
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ESSA allows states to develop their own education standards and assessment systems, promoting local control and innovation in educational practices.
Under ESSA, states must identify and support schools that are consistently underperforming, ensuring targeted resources and strategies for improvement.
The law encourages a well-rounded education by allowing funding to support not just academic subjects but also arts, music, and physical education.
ESSA places an emphasis on reducing the use of high-stakes testing and promotes alternative assessments to measure student progress.
The act also seeks to improve parental involvement by requiring states to engage families in the development of state plans and school improvement strategies.
Review Questions
How does the Every Student Succeeds Act shift accountability from the federal level to the state level?
The Every Student Succeeds Act shifts accountability by granting states greater flexibility in developing their educational standards, assessment systems, and improvement strategies. Unlike its predecessor, No Child Left Behind, which imposed strict federal mandates on testing and accountability measures, ESSA allows states to determine their own approaches while still holding them accountable for student performance. This decentralization encourages states to tailor their strategies to meet local needs effectively.
In what ways does ESSA aim to support struggling schools compared to previous legislation?
ESSA aims to support struggling schools by requiring states to identify these schools based on performance metrics and provide targeted interventions. This is a departure from No Child Left Behind, which often resorted to punitive measures without sufficient support. Under ESSA, states can implement customized improvement plans that may include additional funding, professional development for teachers, and increased community engagement. This focus on tailored support helps address the specific challenges facing individual schools.
Evaluate how the Every Student Succeeds Act impacts community engagement in education reform efforts.
The Every Student Succeeds Act significantly impacts community engagement by mandating that states involve families and communities in the development of state education plans and school improvement initiatives. This collaborative approach encourages stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and local organizations, to contribute their insights and needs into the educational process. By prioritizing community input, ESSA fosters a sense of shared responsibility for student success and promotes more effective and sustainable educational reform efforts.
A previous U.S. education law that mandated standardized testing and aimed to close achievement gaps but faced criticism for its one-size-fits-all approach.
The process of holding schools, districts, and states responsible for student performance and educational outcomes, often through standardized assessments.
State Educational Agency (SEA): A state-level government agency responsible for overseeing public education and ensuring compliance with federal education laws and regulations.