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Lessons For Essa: The National Education Policy Center Series

Cameron Reed

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Published in Learning From The Federal Market?Based Reforms: Lessons For ESSA (The National Education Policy Center Series)

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The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a landmark piece of legislation that reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). ESSA was signed into law by President Obama in December 2015 and represents a significant shift in federal education policy.

Learning from the Federal Market?Based Reforms: Lessons for ESSA (The National Education Policy Center Series)

by JOSE EDUARDO ORTEGA LANDA

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ESSA is the first major rewrite of ESEA in more than a decade. The law makes a number of changes to the way that the federal government supports and oversees education in the United States. These changes include:

A new focus on equity and access
Increased flexibility for states and districts
A new accountability system
A new emphasis on early childhood education

ESSA is a complex and far-reaching law. It will take time to fully understand its impact on education in the United States. However, there are a number of key lessons that can be learned from ESSA. These lessons can help educators, policymakers, and parents understand the new law and its implications for education in the United States.

1. Equity and Access Must Be a Priority

ESSA places a new focus on equity and access. The law requires states to develop plans to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or socioeconomic status.

This new focus on equity is a welcome change. For too long, our education system has failed to serve all students equally. ESSA takes a number of steps to address this problem, including:

Requiring states to develop plans to identify and address disparities in educational outcomes
Increasing funding for programs that support disadvantaged students
Providing new flexibility for states and districts to develop innovative ways to meet the needs of all students

ESSA's focus on equity is a critical step towards ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

2. Flexibility is Essential

ESSA provides states and districts with increased flexibility to develop and implement their own education policies. This flexibility is essential for ensuring that states and districts can meet the needs of their unique students and communities.

Under ESSA, states and districts have more flexibility in the following areas:

Developing their own academic standards
Creating their own accountability systems
Distributing funding to schools
Providing professional development to teachers

This increased flexibility is a positive development. It allows states and districts to tailor their education policies to the needs of their students and communities.

3. Accountability is Still Important

While ESSA provides states and districts with increased flexibility, it also maintains a strong focus on accountability. The law requires states to develop accountability systems that measure student progress and hold schools accountable for results.

ESSA's accountability system is based on the following four pillars:

Academic achievement
Growth
Graduation rates
College and career readiness

States must use these four pillars to develop their own accountability systems. The systems must be fair and transparent, and they must provide meaningful information to parents, educators, and the public.

4. Early Childhood Education is Critical

ESSA places a new emphasis on early childhood education. The law provides increased funding for early childhood programs, and it requires states to develop plans to expand access to high-quality early childhood education.

Research has shown that early childhood education can have a profound impact on a child's development. Children who participate in high-quality early childhood programs are more likely to succeed in school and have better life outcomes.

ESSA's focus on early childhood education is a welcome development. It is an investment in our children's future.

ESSA is a complex and far-reaching law. It will take time to fully understand its impact on education in the United States. However, the key lessons that can be learned from ESSA are clear: