Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
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| Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) | |
|---|---|
| Title | Every Student Succeeds Act |
| Enacted | December 10, 2015 |
| Public law | 114–95 |
| Sponsors | Paul Ryan, John Kline, Lamar Alexander |
| Introduced | United States House of Representatives |
| Committees | House Education and the Workforce Committee, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee |
| Signed by | Barack Obama |
| Related legislation | Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, No Child Left Behind Act |
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a United States federal statute that reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and replaced major elements of the No Child Left Behind Act. It was enacted during the administration of Barack Obama after bipartisan passage in the United States Congress, reflecting competing priorities among lawmakers such as Paul Ryan, John Kline, and Lamar Alexander. The law reshaped accountability, assessment, and funding for K–12 public schools across states, territories, and districts including District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Background and Legislative History
The statute’s roots trace to the original 1965 statute championed by Lyndon B. Johnson and amended under presidents including Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton, whose administration enacted significant changes via the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and initiatives tied to Clinton Foundation priorities. The 2001 No Child Left Behind Act signed by George W. Bush introduced high-stakes testing and sanctions that drove debates involving stakeholders such as American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, and state chiefs like members of the Council of Chief State School Officers. Bipartisan negotiations in the 114th United States Congress involved senators from committees chaired by Patty Murray and Lamar Alexander and were influenced by advocacy from groups including Achieve, Inc., The Education Trust, and corporate actors like Microsoft and Google. Floor debates in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives referenced studies by Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation, and Urban Institute before final passage and signature by Barack Obama on December 10, 2015.
Key Provisions
Major provisions reauthorize federal formula grants administered by the United States Department of Education and revise accountability frameworks used by states including California, Texas, New York (state), and Florida. The law mandates statewide assessment systems, while allowing states such as Massachusetts and Louisiana greater discretion over school improvement strategies; it requires reporting on subgroups identified similarly to classifications used by U.S. Census Bureau and civil rights enforcement agencies like the United States Commission on Civil Rights. ESSA expands support for English language learners, aligning with research institutions such as RAND Corporation and policy centers like American Enterprise Institute and funding channels administered through programs familiar to grantees like Teach For America and KIPP. Provisions address educator effectiveness, professional development standards promoted by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and support for evidence-based interventions highlighted by Institute of Education Sciences.
State Implementation and Accountability
Under the statute, states develop accountability plans subject to peer review and action by entities including governors such as Jerry Brown and Rick Scott and education chiefs from the Council of Chief State School Officers. States choose indicators—often including chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and assessment proficiency—drawing on models from Ohio, Colorado, and Georgia while complying with monitoring expectations set by the United States Department of Education and oversight from congressional committees like House Education and the Workforce Committee. Implementation involved technical assistance from organizations such as Council of the Great City Schools, National Governors Association, and research partners like Harvard Graduate School of Education and Stanford University.
Funding and Resource Allocation
The act authorized appropriations through federal formulas for Title I and other programs administered by the United States Department of Education, impacting districts such as Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools, and New York City Department of Education. Funding provisions interact with federal budget processes led by the United States Office of Management and Budget and appropriations decisions by committees including the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. Grants target high-poverty schools, coordinated with programs like Head Start and agencies such as Administration for Children and Families, while philanthropic partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York contributed research and pilot funding.
Impact and Criticisms
Supporters including Lamar Alexander and Maggie Hassan argued the law restored state flexibility and reduced federal mandates while maintaining civil rights protections advocated by NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Critics from groups like the NAACP, Education Trust, and commentators at The New York Times and The Washington Post argued the act preserved testing regimes and unevenly distributed resources, echoing concerns raised in studies from Brookings Institution, Economic Policy Institute, and Urban Institute. Evaluations by researchers at University of Michigan, Columbia University, and Teachers College, Columbia University examined effects on achievement gaps, while state-level disputes in places such as Wisconsin, Kansas, and Arizona highlighted tensions over implementation, assessment waivers, and local control championed by school boards like those in Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Detroit.
Legal Challenges and Court Cases
Litigation following enactment involved civil rights organizations and state actors, with cases in federal courts influenced by precedents from Brown v. Board of Education and statutory interpretation disputes in circuits such as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Challenges often concerned accountability provisions, testing accommodations, and funding formulas, invoking entities like the United States Department of Justice and advocacy groups including American Civil Liberties Union. Judicial outcomes shaped implementation guidance issued by the United States Department of Education and informed subsequent administrative actions under later administrations including those of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.