The American School System: An In-Depth Look at the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Its Revolutionary Provisions for Equity, Excellence, and Local Control

Since 1965 America has done a job that the Jesuits would be proud of even know it's not perfect

Hello Sifters, it’s Sunday, with a sunny blue sky in Las Vegas. Let’s talk education, since tomorrow is a school day.

Every Student Succeeds Act is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It aims to ensure that every child achieves. The Jesuits would be proud of what the American education system has accomplished. As imperfect as it is.

Paying subscribers, at the bottom is a link to the full BART summary (it’s a very detailed version of what you’re about to read, too large to post here) and an executive main point summary.

Decoding the American Government's Education Priorities for Generations: An Inside Look Since 1965

Since 1965, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has been the driving force behind a report cards to grants . It is a US federal law that requires states to report on non-academic indicators such as school climate, student engagement, and access to advanced coursework, in addition to academic measures among other things you’ll read about today.

The Act emphasizes the importance of providing professional development opportunities for teachers and principals to improve instruction and support student learning.

One of the key provisions of the ESSA is the Title I formula for funding education for home-schooled and other children and youth.

The Act also includes provisions for funding transferability for State and Local Educational Agencies, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native education, Impact AID, and school prayer.

The bill provides funding for migrant education programs, preparing and training high-quality teachers, and creating a master teacher corps.

It includes plans for Native American and Alaska Native language immersion schools and programs, a report on small rural and low-income school programs, and a plan for the National Advisory Council on Indian Education.

ESSA aims to promote equity and excellence in education by empowering states and local educational agencies to innovate and improve educational outcomes for all students.

It emphasizes parent and family engagement, requires schools to provide parents with understandable and uniform information about their children's education, and encourages the use of data and evidence-based practices to identify areas of need and develop comprehensive plans to improve student outcomes.

Local educational agencies (LEAs) must ensure that funds are used to support evidence-based interventions that are proven to be effective in improving student outcomes.

The State must make public any methods or criteria it is using to measure teacher, principal, or other school leader effectiveness and include a clear and concise description of the State's accountability system in the State report card.

The ESSA provides provisions to increase flexibility and local control over educational programs while also emphasizing the importance of equity and engagement in education.

Ongoing evaluation and attention to barriers will be critical in ensuring that the academic quality for all students is maintained, and funds are used in accordance with the guidelines set forth in ESSA and are subject to oversight and accountability measures.

ESSA aims to improve the quality of education for all students and provide support for teachers and school leaders. It emphasizes the importance of innovation, flexibility, and collaboration between state and local educational agencies.

The Act provides funding for various programs and services, including early childhood education, human capital management systems, and literacy education programs. It also includes provisions for migratory children and those who have come into contact with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

ESSA represents a significant change to the US education system and has the potential to positively impact students, teachers, and schools across the country.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal law that aims to improve the quality of education for American students. ESSA provides funding for a range of programs and activities that support access to a well-rounded education, including college and career guidance, safe and healthy student initiatives, and professional development for educators.

Under Subpart 1 and Subpart 2, eligible entities receiving a grant must provide a summary of the activities assisted under the grant to the Secretary of Education. The Secretary will carry out an independent evaluation to measure the effectiveness of the program assisted under Subpart 1.

ESSA also promotes collaboration between charter schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) to share best practices and encourages eligible applicants to submit a cohesive strategy to receive a subgrant.

One provision of ESSA is the establishment or expansion of community learning centers to support student academic success. Eligible entities must address transportation needs and coordinate with other federal, state, and local programs.

The Act also provides funding for programs targeting students attending schools implementing comprehensive or targeted support and improvement activities, including drug and violence prevention initiatives, counseling services, and STEM skill-building programs.

In addition, ESSA establishes statewide family engagement centers to assist parents, including those that may be difficult to engage with schools or LEAs. The Act provides grants to eligible entities to develop evidence-based innovations and ensures equitable distribution of funds.

It also recognizes the importance of providing equitable opportunities and resources for all students, including those who are gifted and talented, to achieve academic success.

Furthermore, the Act addresses the educational needs of Indian students by providing funding and technical assistance to local educational agencies, Indian tribes, and organizations to enhance the educational experience of Indian students. It recognizes the unique cultural, language, and academic needs of Indian students and promotes their success.

ESSA aims to provide a well-rounded education for American students by promoting collaboration between charter schools and LEAs, establishing community learning centers, providing funding for targeted programs, and addressing the educational needs of diverse student populations.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) emphasizes the importance of collaboration between local educational agencies and Indian tribes to provide a comprehensive approach to education that addresses the needs of all students.

The Act promotes the incorporation of culturally responsive teaching and learning strategies into educational programs and activities that aim to prevent violence, suicide, and substance abuse.

Additionally, ESSA establishes a grant program to support Native American and Alaska Native language programs in schools, which aims to increase the number of qualified Indian teachers and administrators and support schools that use Native American and Alaska Native languages as the primary language of instruction.

However, implementing the grant program effectively may be challenging due to limited qualified Indian teachers and administrators and difficulties in developing and maintaining language programs.

Changes have also been made to subsection a 5A, which pertains to determining eligibility for payments for eligible federally connected children in local educational agencies (LEAs). The previous language, which referred to children living on base, has been struck and replaced with language that includes children under lease of off-base property.

To determine eligibility for payments, the average per pupil expenditure of three or more comparable LEAs in the state is used. A heavily impacted LEA that is eligible for a basic support payment but has had a tax rate below 95 percent of the average tax rate for general fund purposes of comparable LEAs in the state for two consecutive fiscal years will be determined to be ineligible.

ESSA provides opportunities for students in LEAs with enrollments of 100 or fewer children to receive assistance from the Secretary of Education. The Act also provides tax exemption for properties conveyed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and offers additional assistance for homeless students under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Key terms in ESSA, such as affordable housing and covered program, are crucial to understanding the law's impact on students' education. The Act defines universal design for learning and well-rounded education and mandates that states establish challenging academic standards and assess students annually in reading and mathematics in grades 3-8. States must also set long-term goals and measures of interim progress for all students.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a law that aims to provide all students, including underperforming subgroups and homeless youth, with access to quality education.

The Act offers funding for early childhood education and teacher professional development, while also mandating services for homeless children, including access to public preschool programs, nutrition programs, transportation services, and referrals to health care, dental, mental health, substance abuse, and housing services.However, there are concerns about the implementation and funding of the Act.

While ESSA provides greater flexibility and accountability for states and schools, it is important to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness over time.

The Act emphasizes the importance of challenging academic standards, scientific research in reading instruction, and professional development for educators.When making amendments to the Act, it is crucial to exercise caution and consideration for all parties involved.

This means understanding the potential impact of the amendment on different groups and engaging in open dialogue and negotiation with those who may be affected. Ultimately, the goal should be to create a solution that is fair and equitable for everyone involved and addresses the underlying issues that prompted the need for the amendment in the first place.

Overall, the ESSA can benefit students by providing additional resources and support for those in need, but it is important to ensure that the Act is implemented effectively and that amendments are made with careful consideration for all parties involved.

Exclusive Member Extra: Key Sections of the ESSA Simplified Down Further + Links to the Raw BART Summary With Many Specific Details & Data