ESSA Explained: A Quick Guide

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Understanding the Every Student Succeeds Act

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the cornerstone of federal involvement in K-12 education in the United States. Signed into law on December 10, 2015, by President Barack Obama, this bipartisan measure reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.

The original ESEA was a landmark civil rights legislation championed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who believed that “full educational opportunity” should be “our first national goal.” From its inception, ESEA provided grants to districts serving low-income students, funded educational resources, supported special education, and offered scholarships for disadvantaged college students.

ESSA replaced the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002, which had become difficult for schools and educators to implement due to its prescriptive requirements.

Key Principles and Goals

ESSA’s passage reflected broad consensus that a more flexible, locally driven approach to education was necessary. The shift from NCLB’s centralized control acknowledged that educational needs differ significantly across states.

At its core, ESSA is guided by several fundamental principles:

• A commitment to ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students
• Building upon educational progress, including record-high graduation rates
• Preparing all students for success in post-secondary education and careers
• Expanding educational opportunities nationwide
• Closing persistent achievement gaps between different student groups

While ESSA empowers states with greater flexibility, these core principles demonstrate a continued federal dedication to equity and high standards in education.

Four Main Components

ESSA’s framework can be understood through four key themes: Accountability, Standards and Assessments, Supporting Excellent Educators, and Improving School Climate.

Accountability

Accountability under ESSA marks a shift from NCLB’s Adequate Yearly Progress system. ESSA requires states to develop their own accountability systems using multiple measures:

• Academic achievement measured by performance on statewide assessments
• Graduation rates for high schools
• Another academic indicator (such as student growth for elementary and middle schools)
• At least one indicator of school quality or student success (such as school climate or student engagement)

States have increased flexibility to:

• Determine the weight of each indicator
• Set ambitious yet achievable long-term goals
• Define methodologies for identifying schools needing support

Schools requiring support fall into two categories:

• Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools: lowest-performing 5% of Title I schools, high schools with graduation rates below 67%, and schools where specific subgroups consistently struggle
• Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) schools: where one or more subgroups perform as poorly as the lowest-performing 5% of all schools

This framework represents a transition toward a more comprehensive, state-led approach than the previous emphasis on standardized test scores alone.

Standards and Assessments

ESSA maintains federal requirements for state academic standards in mathematics, reading/language arts, and science. States must have challenging academic standards that prepare students for college and careers, with flexibility to develop their own standards or adopt common ones.

Annual statewide assessments are mandatory:

• Mathematics and reading/language arts: grades 3-8 and once during high school
• Science: once in grades 3-5, once in grades 6-9, and once in grades 10-12

States must achieve a 95% participation rate for all students and each identified subgroup.

ESSA includes provisions for accommodations for diverse learners:

• Students with disabilities must receive appropriate accommodations
• English learners must undergo annual English language proficiency assessments and may receive testing accommodations for a limited period

This approach ensures that assessments are meaningful and equitable while providing data to inform improvement efforts.

Supporting Excellent Educators

ESSA acknowledges educators’ pivotal role in student success. Title II, Part A provides funding for high-quality professional development to enhance skills and knowledge of teachers, principals, and school leaders.

Effective professional development under ESSA should be sustained, intensive, and directly relevant to improving teaching practices and student learning. Funds can support training on effective instructional strategies, data utilization, and leadership development.

Beyond professional development, ESSA supports:

• Creating safe learning environments
• Recruiting and retaining effective educators, particularly in high-need schools
• Using data to inform instructional practices and identify areas needing support

This focus underscores the critical role that educators play in ensuring all students have opportunities to succeed.

Improving School Climate

ESSA is committed to improving school climate, safety, and student well-being. Title IV, Part A, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Program, provides funding for:

• Bullying prevention programs
• Mental health services and supports
• Positive behavior interventions and supports

ESSA emphasizes providing all students with access to a well-rounded education beyond core academic subjects, including arts, music, foreign languages, history, civics, and physical education.

States can include measures of school climate and safety in their accountability systems, reflecting the connection between social, emotional, and academic development.

References and Resources

ESSA emphasizes state and local report cards to provide parents and communities with clear data on school performance, including achievement, graduation rates, and other indicators.

For more information about ESSA, the U.S. Department of Education offers numerous resources:

• Official ESSA website
• Full text of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by ESSA
• Parent’s Guide to ESSA
• ESSA Resources page
• Parent Guide to State and Local Report Cards

Conclusion

The Every Student Succeeds Act represents a significant evolution in federal education policy, building upon ESEA’s commitment to equal opportunity while incorporating lessons from NCLB.

ESSA’s emphasis on state flexibility marks a departure from previous prescriptive federal approaches. However, the law maintains a strong focus on accountability for student outcomes, high academic standards, educator support, and positive school climates.

Success depends on ongoing efforts of states, districts, educators, parents, and communities working together to implement ESSA in ways that serve the diverse needs of all students.

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