January 5, 2016
As you are aware, last month President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Congress overwhelmingly passed the legislation with the House voting 359-64, and Senate voting 85-12. This is the legislation to replace the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the previous version of the ESEA, which was passed in 2001, and has been up for reauthorization since 2007. Overall, we support legislation that reduces the federal role in public education and restores local control. The new “Every Student Succeeds Act”, while not perfect, is a move in that direction.
ESSA includes many reforms and offers relief from onerous provisions of NCLB. It helps ensure educational opportunity for all students by:
holding all students to high academic standards that prepare them for success in college and careers;
- ensuring accountability by stipulating that when students fall behind, states redirect resources into what works to help them and their schools improve, with a particular focus on the very lowest-performing schools, high schools with high dropout rates, and schools with achievement gaps;
- empowering state and local decision-makers to develop their own strong systems for school improvement based upon evidence;
- reducing the burden of testing on students and teachers, making sure that tests do not crowd out teaching and learning, without sacrificing clear, annual information parents and educators need to know about what their children are learning;
- providing more children access to high-quality preschool; and
- establishing new resources for proven strategies that will spur reform and drive opportunity and better outcomes for students.There is much to be figured out as the nation, and more specifically, the PA Department of Education, move toward implementing the new law. Detailed documents and fact sheet can be found on the websites of the White House, the Federal Department of Education and the PA Department of Education.
At this time, any specific questions regarding ESSA can be directed to ESSA.questions@ed.gov
