Every Student Succeeds Act

Definition

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a significant piece of legislation enacted in December 2015 that aims to ensure equitable access to quality education for all students in the United States. ESSA replaced the No Child Left Behind Act and emphasizes state control over education, allowing states greater flexibility in setting standards, implementing assessments, and determining school accountability systems while maintaining federal support for disadvantaged students.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ESSA shifts the focus from a one-size-fits-all approach of No Child Left Behind to a more state-driven framework that allows for local control and decision-making.
2. Under ESSA, states are required to develop their own accountability systems that must include academic assessments, graduation rates, and other indicators of school quality.
3. The law also mandates that states provide support for struggling schools, ensuring that every student has access to a well-rounded education.
4. ESSA emphasizes the importance of engaging families and communities in the educational process, promoting transparency and accountability.
5. The act maintains critical federal protections for disadvantaged groups, ensuring that schools do not neglect the needs of students who require additional support.

Review Questions

• How does the Every Student Succeeds Act differ from its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act, in terms of state control over education?
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act significantly increases state control compared to the No Child Left Behind Act by allowing states to create their own accountability systems rather than adhering to strict federal mandates. While No Child Left Behind imposed uniform standards and assessments across all states, ESSA empowers individual states to tailor their educational strategies based on local needs and priorities. This shift fosters greater flexibility for states in setting academic standards and determining how to support struggling schools.
• Discuss the implications of state accountability systems established under ESSA on educational equity.
  • State accountability systems developed under ESSA play a crucial role in promoting educational equity by requiring states to address the needs of all students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Each state must create an accountability framework that includes measures such as academic performance, graduation rates, and other school quality indicators. By emphasizing transparency and data collection, these systems help identify schools needing improvement and ensure that resources are directed towards supporting underserved populations, ultimately striving for equitable access to quality education.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act on the future of education policy in the United States.
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act is likely to have a lasting impact on U.S. education policy by establishing a new paradigm focused on state control while maintaining essential federal support for disadvantaged students. This balance encourages innovation in educational practices tailored to local needs while holding states accountable for outcomes. As states implement their accountability systems and develop customized support strategies, ESSA could pave the way for more personalized approaches to education that prioritize equity and access. The effectiveness of this law will shape future educational reforms as stakeholders assess its success in closing achievement gaps and improving overall student performance.

Related terms

No Child Left Behind Act:

A federal law enacted in 2001 that aimed to improve student achievement and change the culture of America's schools, requiring states to adopt educational standards and assessments.

State Accountability Systems: Frameworks developed by states under ESSA to evaluate school performance, set goals for student achievement, and determine interventions for underperforming schools.

Title I Funding: Federal funding provided to schools with high percentages of low-income students, aimed at ensuring all students receive a fair and equal opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.