Every Student Succeeds Act

Definition

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a U.S. law enacted in 2015 that governs K-12 public education, aiming to ensure equitable education opportunities for all students while reducing the emphasis on standardized testing. ESSA replaced the No Child Left Behind Act and provides states with more flexibility in determining their own educational standards and accountability systems, promoting a focus on student growth and success rather than solely on test scores.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ESSA allows states to create their own assessment systems and accountability measures, giving them more control over how they evaluate student performance.
2. The act emphasizes the importance of supporting low-performing schools and providing additional resources to help them improve.
3. Under ESSA, there is a greater focus on social-emotional learning and the overall well-being of students, recognizing that education goes beyond academics.
4. The law includes provisions for English language learners, ensuring that they receive appropriate support to achieve proficiency in English while also succeeding academically.
5. ESSA encourages greater community and parent engagement in the education process, promoting collaboration between schools and families to enhance student learning.

Review Questions

• How does the Every Student Succeeds Act change the approach to standardized testing compared to its predecessor?
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act shifts the focus from an over-reliance on standardized testing to a more balanced approach that includes multiple measures of student success. Unlike the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandated specific testing requirements for all schools, ESSA allows states to develop their own assessment systems that align with local educational goals. This flexibility means that states can incorporate other factors such as student growth, school climate, and community engagement into their accountability frameworks.
• In what ways does the Every Student Succeeds Act specifically address the needs of English language learners?
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act recognizes the unique challenges faced by English language learners by requiring states to implement effective support systems tailored to their needs. It emphasizes the importance of developing English proficiency alongside academic skills, ensuring that these students have access to high-quality instruction and resources. Additionally, ESSA encourages states to include English language proficiency as part of their accountability systems, promoting equitable educational opportunities for all students.
• Evaluate the implications of the Every Student Succeeds Act on educational equity and student success across diverse school populations.
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act has significant implications for educational equity by empowering states to address the diverse needs of their student populations. By allowing flexibility in assessment and accountability systems, ESSA encourages a more comprehensive approach that considers factors beyond standardized test scores. This shift aims to support low-performing schools and vulnerable student groups, including English language learners and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Ultimately, ESSA promotes a more inclusive educational landscape where all students can succeed, thereby enhancing overall educational equity.

Related terms

No Child Left Behind Act: A federal law enacted in 2001 aimed at improving educational outcomes by increasing standards and accountability for schools, which was later replaced by ESSA.

Accountability: The responsibility of schools and educators to ensure that students achieve specific educational outcomes, often assessed through standardized testing.

Standardized Testing: A method of evaluating student performance through uniform assessments that are administered and scored in a consistent manner, often used as a measure of school effectiveness.