The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the cornerstone of today’s K–12 education policy in the United States. Signed into law in 2015, it replaced the widely criticized No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and gave states more authority and flexibility to shape education according to their needs — while still ensuring transparency, equity, and accountability in public schools.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or community member, understanding ESSA can help you make better-informed decisions about the schools in your area.
🏛️ Why Was the Every Student Succeeds Act Created?
After years of mounting pressure to move away from a one-size-fits-all federal education approach, ESSA emerged as a solution. Its purpose is to empower states and local school districts to innovate, while maintaining a strong commitment to improving outcomes for all students, especially those who have historically been underserved.
Under ESSA, states no longer face rigid federal mandates. Instead, they are encouraged to develop their own accountability systems, define what student success looks like locally, and build strategies to improve both performance and equity.
📊 What Are the Core Requirements of ESSA?
One of the key strengths of the Every Student Succeeds Act is how it mandates consistent performance measurement — but allows each state the flexibility to define how they do it.
All states are required to assess student achievement in reading, math, and science. But they have the power to choose the assessments they believe best serve their student populations. This local control ensures that the methods used are relevant and culturally appropriate.
Perhaps most notably, ESSA requires every state to create a clear, user-friendly "State Report Card" — an online tool that offers data on how schools are performing. These report cards must include:
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Standardized test results
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Graduation rates 🎓
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Rates of suspension, absenteeism, and teacher qualifications
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And — for the first time ever — per pupil expenditures 💰, revealing how much money is spent per student
This focus on data transparency helps parents understand what's happening in their child's school and empowers them to ask better questions and seek solutions.
🔍 How ESSA Supports Accountability and Equity
ESSA is not just about collecting data — it's about using that data to drive real improvements in schools.
Every state must identify the lowest-performing 5% of schools, which then receive focused intervention through a process called Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI). These schools are required to implement meaningful, evidence-based strategies to raise achievement levels.
States also have the option to offer support for schools where specific groups of students (like English language learners or students with disabilities) are underperforming, even if the school overall seems to be doing well.
This approach helps ensure that no student falls through the cracks.
🚀 Investing in the Future: Career Pathways and Flexibility
In addition to academics, ESSA encourages states to use federal education funds in innovative, locally-relevant ways. This includes greater investments in:
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Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, preparing students for real-world jobs
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Student transportation to higher-performing schools, improving school access
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Local initiatives that meet community-specific needs
This flexibility means that education isn’t just about test scores — it’s about giving students access to the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in both college and career.
🌐 Where Can You Learn More?
Each state maintains a unique, easy-to-access State Report Card website, where families and communities can track school progress. These platforms provide data on student performance, teacher qualifications, funding transparency, and school improvement plans.
By taking a few minutes to explore this information, you can become a more engaged advocate for your child's education — and a more informed voice in your local school system.