Every Student Succeeds Act

Every Student Succeeds Act is a major United States federal law governing K–12 public education policy. Signed into law by President Barack Obama in December 2015, it reauthorized the longstanding Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and replaced the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. The legislation marked a significant shift from federal to state control over accountability systems, school improvement, and student testing.

Background and Legislative History

The push for a new education law grew from widespread bipartisan criticism of its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act, which was championed by President George W. Bush. Key legislators, including Senator Lamar Alexander and Representative John Kline, led efforts to craft a replacement that reduced the Department of Education's role. The legislative process involved extensive negotiations between members of the Senate HELP Committee and the House Education Committee. After versions passed both the Senate and the House, a conference committee reconciled differences, producing a bill that gained strong support from organizations like the National Governors Association and was ultimately signed in a ceremony at the White House.

Key Provisions and Requirements

The law requires states to adopt challenging academic standards, such as those aligned with the Common Core State Standards Initiative, though it prohibits the Secretary of Education from mandating specific standards. States must test students annually in math and English language arts in grades 3–8 and once in high school, and in science three times between grades 3–12. A central provision mandates that states design their own accountability systems, which must include specific indicators like proficiency on state tests, graduation rates for high schools, and a measure of English language proficiency. Additionally, states must identify and support the lowest-performing 5% of schools, all high schools with low graduation rates, and schools with underperforming subgroups.

Implementation and State Plans

Implementation required each state, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, to submit a detailed consolidated plan for approval to the Department of Education. These plans outline the state's chosen academic standards, accountability systems, and school improvement strategies. The process granted significant flexibility, allowing states like California and Texas to incorporate unique measures such as chronic absenteeism or college readiness. The review of state plans was a major undertaking for the department under both Secretary John King Jr. and later Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Differences from Previous Law (No Child Left Behind)

The act fundamentally restructured the federal role established under the No Child Left Behind Act. It eliminated the prescriptive Adequate Yearly Progress metric and the associated federal mandates for school restructuring, such as requiring charter school conversion or staff replacement. While retaining annual testing, it reduced the high-stakes consequences of test scores, allowing states to use other factors in accountability. The law also repealed the Highly Qualified Teacher mandate, returning authority over teacher qualifications to states and districts, and placed new restrictions on the power of the Secretary of Education.

Impact and Criticism

Proponents, including the Council of Chief State School Officers, hailed the law for restoring state control and encouraging innovative approaches to measuring school quality. However, impact has been mixed, with analysts noting persistent achievement gaps and concerns over how some states have designed their systems. Critics from organizations like the Education Trust argue that the flexibility can allow states to weaken accountability for historically disadvantaged groups, including students from low-income families, racial minorities, and those with disabilities. The long-term effects on student achievement and equity continue to be debated among policymakers in Washington, D.C. and educators nationwide. Category:United States federal education legislation Category:114th United States Congress Category:2015 in American law