Overview
Signed into law December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the federal legislation that governs elementary and secondary education in America. ESSA reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and replaced No Child Left Behind (NCLB). ESSA represents a major shift from the increased federal authority of NCLB and state waivers issued by the Department of Education to increased flexibility to states and school districts.
The new law shifts authority from the federal government to states and districts in a number of areas, including giving states the discretion to determine (1) what it means for a school or district to be successful and (2) when and how to intervene in schools or districts that persistently fail to meet state expectations. It does this by providing states with increased flexibility and responsibility for (1) developing school and school district accountability plans and systems, (2) deciding how student test scores are used, and (3) crafting teacher evaluation systems.