Every Student Succeeds Act

Definition

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal law enacted in 2015 that aims to ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students in the United States. It replaces the No Child Left Behind Act and emphasizes state control over education while still holding schools accountable for student performance through standardized testing and other measures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ESSA provides more flexibility for states in designing their educational systems compared to its predecessor, No Child Left Behind.
2. Under ESSA, states must develop their own accountability systems, which can include a mix of academic indicators, school quality measures, and student engagement metrics.
3. The law includes provisions for supporting disadvantaged students, including those from low-income backgrounds and English language learners.
4. ESSA encourages the use of evidence-based practices in schools and requires states to report on their progress towards educational goals.
5. The act maintains the requirement for annual testing in reading and math for students in grades 3-8 and once in high school but allows states to choose how they assess student performance.

Review Questions

• How does the Every Student Succeeds Act differ from the No Child Left Behind Act in terms of state control and accountability?
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act grants states greater flexibility in creating their own accountability systems compared to the No Child Left Behind Act, which imposed stricter federal requirements. While both laws aim to hold schools accountable for student performance, ESSA allows states to determine how they assess educational success, giving them more control over their educational strategies. This shift reflects a move towards localized decision-making while still ensuring that all students are provided equitable opportunities.
• What mechanisms does ESSA implement to support disadvantaged students and promote equitable education?
  • ESSA includes specific provisions aimed at supporting disadvantaged students, such as those from low-income families or English language learners. The law requires states to report on the performance of these groups, ensuring that their educational needs are prioritized. Furthermore, states must design their accountability systems to address the achievement gaps between different demographic groups, promoting a more inclusive approach to education that aims for equal opportunities for all students.
• Evaluate the impact of standardized testing under ESSA on educational outcomes across different states.
  • Standardized testing under ESSA serves as a tool for measuring educational outcomes and holds schools accountable for student performance. While it maintains annual assessments in reading and math, the law allows states to develop their own testing approaches, which can lead to significant variations in how student success is measured. This flexibility can encourage innovation in assessment methods but also raises concerns about inconsistencies across states. Evaluating the overall impact reveals that while some states may improve outcomes through tailored assessments, others may struggle with maintaining equity across diverse populations, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in the implementation of ESSA.

Related terms

No Child Left Behind Act:

A previous federal law aimed at improving educational outcomes through standardized testing and accountability measures, which was replaced by ESSA.

Standardized Testing: A form of assessment administered and scored in a consistent manner, used to measure student performance and school effectiveness under ESSA.

Accountability: The responsibility of schools and states to ensure students meet certain educational standards and achieve specified outcomes, a central focus of ESSA.