A New Education Law
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015, and represents good news for our nation's schools. This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation's national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students.
The new law builds on key areas of progress in recent years, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students across the country.
For example, today, high school graduation rates are at all-time highs. Dropout rates are at historic lows. And more students are going to college than ever before. These achievements provide a firm foundation for further work to expand educational opportunity and improve student outcomes under ESSA.
The previous version of the law, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, was enacted in 2002. NCLB represented a significant step forward for our nation's children in many respects, particularly as it shined a light on where students were making progress and where they needed additional support, regardless of race, income, zip code, disability, home language, or background. The law was scheduled for revision in 2007, and, over time, NCLB's prescriptive requirements became increasingly unworkable for schools and educators. Recognizing this fact, in 2010, the Obama administration joined a call from educators and families to create a better law that focused on the clear goal of fully preparing all students for success in college and careers.
Congress has now responded to that call.
The Every Student Succeeds Act reflects many of the priorities of this administration.
- A Parent Guide to State and Local Report Cards
- Interpretación de libretas de calificaciones estatales y locales: Guía para padres
- Opportunities and Responsibilities for State and Local Report Cards
Dear colleague letter on state plan amendments, school identification, reporting, and technical assistance (October 24, 2019)- Parent and Educator Guide to School Climate Resources (April 10, 2019)
- ESEA Dear Colleague Letter on State Plan Amendments (November 14, 2018)
- ESSA Dear Colleague Letter on ESEA Section 8546 Requirements (June 27, 2018)
- Student-Centered Funding Pilot
- Memorandum to Title I Directors Regarding the Timeline for Implementing the New Title I Supplement, Not Supplant Requirements (December 6, 2017)
- Consolidated State Plans Reminders Webinar (August 1, 2017)
- ESSA Dear Colleague Letter on per-pupil expenditures reporting (June 28, 2017)
- Consolidated State Plan Frequently Asked Questions (June 16, 2017)
- ESSA Dear Colleague Letter on School Support and Improvement Activities and Consultation (April 10, 2017)
- Revised Consolidated State plan requirements
- ESSA State Plan Submission
- Secretary DeVos' Letter to States regarding consolidated State plans (February 10, 2017)
- ESSA State Plan Notice of Intent
- Dear Colleague Letter on ESSA Transition Technical Assistance and Resources (August 5, 2016)
- Dear Colleague Letter on Stakeholder Engagement (June 22, 2016)
- Read excerpts from U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan's remarks on ESSA
- Read the Every Student Succeeds Act
- Sign up for news about ESSA
- Sign up for email updates about ESSA
- ESSA technical assistance resources
- A Parent's Guide to ESSA
- A Summary of the Flexibilities
- Comprender la Ley Cada Estudiante Triunfa
- Build Your Own Presentation: A Parent's Guide to ESSA
- Webinar Presentation: ESSA Flexibilities
Final Regulations
- Final Regulation: Outdated or Superseded Regulations — Title I, Parts A through C; Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program; and Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community (August 21, 2018)
- Fact Sheet for Final Regulations (August 21, 2018)
- Final Regulation: Assessments (December 7, 2016)
- Notice of Final Regulation: Title I, Part A
- Notice of Final Regulation: Title I, Part B
- Fact Sheet for Final Regulations: Title I, Part A and Part B
- Presentation: Assessment Regulations - Title I, Parts A and B (January 11, 2017)
- Guidance Documents
- ESSA High School Graduation Rate Guidance (January 6, 2017)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Supplement, Not Supplant under Title I
- Fact Sheet for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Supplement, Not Supplant under Title I
- Supplement, Not Supplant Overview: Powerpoint | Audio (September 14, 2016)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Title I, Part A
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Title I, Part B
Guidance and Regulatory Information
ESSA Transition FAQs, Webinars, and Dear Colleague Letters
- DRAFT Within-District Allocations Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (March 11, 2020)
- This document combines existing information on within-district Title I, Part A allocations (that currently exists in multiple places) to make the information easier for States and LEAs to access and use. It also updates the information to be consistent with the requirements in the ESEA of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, identifying the requirements and options that the ESEA provides them with respect to within-district allocations. This document is posted for stakeholder review and comment through April 24, 2020. We ask that you refrain from providing line-edits of the document. Instead, please submit substantive comments about the content of the draft, including feedback on any additional topics you would like to see included, to OESE.Feedback@ed.gov. We will consider comments in making revisions but will not provide responses to individual comments.
- Title I, Part A Equitable Services Non-Regulatory Guidance (October 4, 2019)
- Non-Regulatory Guidance
- Summary Response to Public Comments Received
- Secretary's letter to congress regarding ESEA provisions restricting religious organizations as contract providers of equitable services are unconstitutional (March 11, 2019) - Fact Sheet
- Title I Supplement, not Supplant Non-Regulatory Informational Document (June 19, 2019)
- Informational document
- Summary response to public comments received
- ESEA Sec. 1003 Funding for School Improvement & ESEA Sec. 1003A Direct Student Services Webinar (July 18, 2018)
- Dear Colleague Letter on the use of remaining School Improvement Grants (SIG) Funds (January 9, 2018)
- ESSA Dear Colleague Letter on 2017-2018 Transition (January 13, 2017)
- ESSA Transition FAQs (January 18, 2017)
- ESSA Fiscal Changes & Equitable Services Guidance (November 21, 2016)
- ESSA Title IV, Part A Guidance — Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (October 21, 2016)
- Non-Regulatory Guidance: Title II, Part A October 13, 2016
- ESSA Webinar Audio Recording (October 13, 2016)
- Non-Regulatory Guidance: English Learners and Title III Program October 5, 2016
- ESSA Webinar Audio Recording (October 5, 2016)
- ESSA Schoolwide Guidance (September 29, 2016)
- ESSA Dear Colleague Letter on Tribal Consultation (September 26, 2016)
- Evidence Guidance (September 16, 2016)
- ESSA Dear Colleague Letter (January 28, 2016)
- ESSA Webinar Powerpoint (December 22, 2015)
- ESSA Webinar Audio Recording (December 22, 2016)
- Dear Colleague Letter on the Transition to ESSA (December 18, 2015)
- Dear Colleague Letter on the New ESSA Law (December 10, 2015)
Title II, Part A
- ESSA Title II, Part A Guidance — Supporting Educators (September 27, 2016)
Title III, Part A
- ESSA Title III Guidance — English Learners (September 23, 2016)
- Addendum to September 23, 2016 Non-Regulatory Guidance: English Learners and Title III of the ESEA (January 2, 2019)
Children in Foster Care
- Dear Colleague Letter on Implementation of Educational Stability Requirements (December 5, 2016)
- Effective Collaboration Webinar PowerPoint (September 7, 2016)
- Best Interest Determinations and Immediate Enrollment PowerPoint Presentation (August 24, 2016)
- Education and Child Welfare Points of Contact Webinar PowerPoint (August 17, 2016)
- An Overview of the ED/HHS Joint Guidance PowerPoint Presentation (July 27, 2016)
- Foster Care Guidance (June 23, 2016)
- Dear Colleague Letter on Foster Care Guidance (June 23, 2016)
- Dear Colleague Letter on Foster Care Timelines (June 23, 2016)
Education for Homeless Children and Youth
- Homeless Student Guidance (Updated August 2018)
- Letter regarding Title I, Part A reservation to serve homeless students (July 30, 2018)
- Homeless Student Guidance Fact Sheet (July 27, 2016)
- Homeless Student Notice of Rights and Protections (July 27, 2016)
Technical Assistance
- Click here to find additional technical assistance tools, resources, and information to support ESSA implementation.
ESSA Regional Public Meetings:
All public hearings were held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.
University of California Los Angeles, Carnesale Commons: (January 19, 2016)
U.S. Department of Education:(January 11, 2016)
- Title I, Part A assessments — Final Consensus-Based Regulatory Language (April 19, 2016)
- Draft Organizational Protocols for the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (March 17, 2016)
- List of Non-Federal Negotiators (March 4, 2016)
- Sessions 1 Materials (March 21-23, 2016)
- Sessions 2 Materials (April 6-8, 2016)
- Sessions 3 Materials (April 18-19, 2016)
- Negotiator Nomination FAQs (February 22, 2016)
- Rulemaking Webinar / Audio (February 17, 2016)
- Federal Register Notice (February 4, 2016)
- FAQs (February 3, 2016)
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- Note The documents below are for informational purposes only.
Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, a resolution of disapproval of the accountability and State plans final regulations that were published on November 29, 2016 (81 FR 86076). The resolution of disapproval invalidates the accountability and State plan final regulations which are no longer applicable.
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- Final Regulation: Accountability, State Plans, and Data Reporting (November 28, 2016)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Accountability, State Plans, and Data Reporting
- Resource Guide: Accountability for English Learners Under the ESSA (January 18, 2017)
- Accountability Frequently Asked Questions
- ESSA State and Local Report Cards Guidance (January 6, 2017)
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