The Every Student Succeeds Act is a comprehensive legislation that governs K-12 public education in the United States.
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Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
The Every Student Succeeds Act is a comprehensive legislation that governs K-12 public education in the United States.
It was enacted to replace the No Child Left Behind Act and to ensure that all children receive a high-quality education.
Education resources
What is the Every Student Succeeds Act?
First, let’s understand the No Child Left Behind Act.
This law gives states significant authority in determining how schools measure student achievement, particularly for disadvantaged students who belong to one or more of four designated groups:
- Students of color
- Students are facing poverty
- Students in receipt of special education services
- Students with limited English language skills
ESSA requires states to develop education plans for their public schools within guidelines established by the federal government. The law also allows parents and caregivers to provide input on these plans. Each state’s plan must include information on the following:
- Annual assessment
- Academic standards
- Accountability of the school
- Academic achievement goals
- Plans for improving and supporting schools that are struggling
- Local and state report cards
While there are other requirements for states and school districts under ESSA, the ones mentioned above directly impact students with diverse learning and thinking styles. Additionally, the act provides funding for literacy initiatives and grants and promotes innovation in educational approaches.
When was ESSA introduced?
President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law on December 10, 2015. This bipartisan legislation renewed the then Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), a 50-year-old national education law that promoted equal opportunity for all students.
ESSA builds upon recent educational advancements and successes, which have been achieved through the collaborative efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students. It is designed to help improve schools and provide all children with a high-quality education.
Find out more about ESSA
Below is further information on what the Every Student Succeeds Act covers. This list is by no means exhaustive but should provide you with detailed information on ESSA.
Annual assessment
Under ESSA, states are required to administer assessments to students, but the frequency and types of tests vary by grade level. Students in grades 3 to 8 in high school must be tested in reading and mathematics annually, and science must be tested once at each level of K-12 education. States must also provide accommodations for these tests and record them in individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans for students with disabilities. Only a small percentage (around 1%) of students are given alternative assessments, which are different from the standard tests of the state and are typically only taken by students with severe cognitive disabilities.
Academic standards
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, each state can establish its academic standards and school coursework. These standards outline the material students are expected to learn at each grade level. ESSA requires states to have “rigorous” academic standards in mathematics, reading, and science, which means that the curriculum must prepare students for college and future careers. These standards must also be applied to all students with diverse learning and thinking styles.
Accountability of the school
ESSA holds states responsible for ensuring that their schools meet academic standards by requiring them to have the plan to identify underperforming schools. The law specifies certain elements that must be included in the state’s accountability plan. States are required to select at least five measures of school performance, with the first four being mandatory academic indicators:
- Academic progress
- Academic achievement
- High school graduation rates
- Proficiency in English
The fifth measure of school performance required by ESSA must assess school quality or student success. States can select more than one way of measuring this aspect of school performance. Some possible options for measuring school quality or student success include the following:
- Readiness for kindergarten
- Readiness for college
- Rates of discipline within the establishment
- Level of advanced coursework completed
- Absenteeism
Academic achievement goals
States must establish achievable goals for their students to track their progress and determine if they are improving. These goals are especially important for students who may struggle more than others, such as those receiving special education services.
Each state must set ambitious goals for students who tend to lag to help them catch up and narrow the achievement gap with their peers. For example, a state may set a long-term goal of increasing the high school graduation rate for students in special education and implement shorter-term measures to track progress toward this goal. These goals must be detailed in the ESSA plan of each state.
Plans for improving and supporting schools that are struggling
Under ESSA, states must identify underperforming schools and take action to improve them. There are two categories of struggling schools that states must address:
Comprehensive support/improvement schools are the lowest-performing schools in a particular state.
Targeted support/improvement schools where a particular demographic or student group is consistently underperforming (for example, twice-exceptional children).
According to ESSA, once a school has been identified as struggling, states and school districts must develop plans to assist in improving the performance of the school. These plans must utilize teaching styles and approaches that are evidence-based.
How school interventions work under ESSA
ESSA intervenes with schools that have been identified as requiring help. For the bottom 5% of schools and high schools with high dropout rates, the following interventions are made:
- Districts will collaborate with teachers and school staff to develop an evidence-based plan.
- States will monitor the progress of the turnaround efforts.
- If the schools continue to struggle, after a maximum of four years, the state will be required to implement its plan. This could include taking over the school, replacing the principal, or
- converting the school into a charter.
- Districts may also allow for public school choice for students attending seriously low-performing schools but must prioritize the needs of the most disadvantaged students.
For schools where specific subgroups of students are struggling:
- The school in question must develop an evidence-based plan to address the needs of the particular group of students falling behind, such as minority students or those with special educational needs.
- Districts must monitor the implementation of these plans. The district will take action if the school continues to underperform, though there is no specified timeline.
- There is also a provision requiring states and districts to create a “comprehensive improvement plan” for schools where subgroups consistently underperform despite local interventions.
Local and state report cards
As a key component of ESSA, states and school districts must issue report cards that provide public information on school performance. These report cards must include information on the following:
- Results of test scores
- Graduation rates of high schools
- Information about school funding
- Teacher qualification levels
In addition to overall school performance, the report cards also provide information on specific subgroups of students, including students of color, low-income students, English language learners, and students in special education. These report cards enable parents to see how well (or badly) schools serve their children. If a state identifies a school or subgroup as struggling, it is required by law under ESSA to notify parents.
Do parents and caregivers play a role in ESSA?
ESSA requires states to involve parents and caregivers in the school accountability process to prioritize disadvantaged students. Parents and caregivers can provide input on the ESSA plan for their home state, including goals for achievement, accountability, and struggling schools. Parents also have a role in creating report cards, which helps to ensure that the public has access to information on school performance.
Parents can learn more about ESSA by contacting their relevant department of education. Alternatively, parents and caregivers may want to contact the NCLD (National Center for Learning Disabilities) for further information on the importance of ESSA in ensuring disadvantaged children receive a quality education.
Understanding literacy and reading programs under ESSA
In addition to state plans, ESSA offers funding for various optional programs that can assist schools, including two important reading and literacy programs for students. The law established the National Center on Improving Literacy, which provides information on literacy and students with disabilities. ESSA also offers literacy education grants to states, and Congress has allocated millions of dollars in funding for evidence-based literacy instruction since the law’s passage in 2015.
Conclusion: ESSA and school innovation
ESSA encourages schools to try new teaching methods and practices that may benefit students with diverse learning and thinking styles. For example, the law supports Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which offers students various ways to learn the same material.
However, UDL is not just beneficial for students in special education. Instead, it allows all students to demonstrate their knowledge using different methods and gives them equal opportunities to succeed in school. ESSA also encourages states to adopt personalized learning. This approach meets students where they are and allows them to learn at their own pace while having input on the content and methods of their education.
