Every Student Succeeds Act

Definition

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a U.S. law enacted in 2015 that aims to ensure equal educational opportunities for all students, with a strong focus on accountability, standardized testing, and promoting higher academic standards. It replaces the No Child Left Behind Act and allows states more flexibility in how they design their education systems while still emphasizing the importance of student achievement and closing achievement gaps.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ESSA emphasizes the need for states to adopt challenging academic standards that prepare students for success in college and career.
2. Under ESSA, schools are required to assess students annually in reading and math from grades 3 to 8 and once in high school.
3. The law provides funding and support for early childhood education programs, recognizing their importance in laying a solid foundation for future learning.
4. States have the flexibility to design their own accountability systems, which must include multiple measures of student success beyond just test scores.
5. ESSA encourages schools to implement evidence-based interventions to support struggling students and improve overall educational outcomes.

Review Questions

• How does the Every Student Succeeds Act promote flexibility for states while maintaining a focus on accountability?
  • ESSA allows states to create their own accountability systems tailored to their specific needs while ensuring that they still meet federal requirements. States can choose how to measure student performance and what interventions to implement for underperforming schools. This flexibility empowers local educators to address unique challenges while being held accountable for student outcomes through standardized assessments and progress reports.
• Discuss the implications of the Every Student Succeeds Act on culturally responsive teaching practices.
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act encourages the adoption of higher academic standards which must consider the diverse cultural backgrounds of students. This has significant implications for culturally responsive teaching practices, as educators are prompted to recognize and incorporate students' cultural contexts into their curriculum. By fostering inclusive learning environments that reflect students' identities, teachers can enhance engagement and improve educational outcomes for all learners.
• Evaluate how the Every Student Succeeds Act addresses the achievement gap in early childhood education.
  • ESSA tackles the achievement gap by mandating that states implement effective strategies to support disadvantaged students, particularly in early childhood education. By providing funding for early learning programs and requiring assessments that track progress from a young age, ESSA aims to identify and intervene with at-risk children before they fall behind. This proactive approach is essential for closing gaps in academic performance and ensuring that all children have a fair chance at success.

Related terms

Accountability: The requirement for schools to demonstrate progress in student achievement through standardized testing and other performance measures.

Standardized Testing:

A method of assessment that measures students' academic performance uniformly across different schools and districts.

Achievement Gap: The persistent disparity in academic performance between different groups of students, often based on socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity.