Just the Facts: What You Need to Know About ESSA | NEA

ESSA requires annual tests in grades 3-8 and once in high school. That said, the law eliminates No Child Left Behind's (NCLB) rigid system of Adequate Yearly ... SkipNavigation Weusecookiestoofferyouabetterbrowsingexperience,provideads,analyzesitetraffic,andpersonalizecontent.Ifyoucontinuetousethissite,youconsenttoouruseofcookies. Accept&Close Home ResourceLibrary Report JusttheFacts:WhatYouNeedtoKnowAboutESSA ESSAkeepsafocusonstudentsmostinneedwhilereturningdecision-makingbacktolocaleducators,families,andcommunities. By: EducationPolicy&PracticeStaff,[email protected] Published:04/2020 Share Thankstofivekeychanges,theEveryStudentSucceedsAct(ESSA)helpsensureallstudentshavetheresourcesandsupporttheyneedregardlessofZIPcode.Here'swhywe'reexcitedaboutthelaw: 1.ESSAisaboutopportunity. ESSAintroducesOpportunityIndicatorsofschoolsuccessorstudentsupporttohelpcommunitiesidentifyopportunitygaps,andbegintoclosethem.  2.ESSAreclaimsteachingtimefromstandardizedtesting. ESSAhasthepotentialtolessenthefocusonstandardizedtestingsostudentshavemoretimetolearn,andteachershavemoretimetoteach.ESSArequiresannualtestsingrades3-8andonceinhighschool.Thatsaid,thelaweliminatesNoChildLeftBehind’s(NCLB)rigidsystemofAdequateYearlyProgress(AYP).ESSAalsoallowsdistrictstoapplytouseothernationallyrecognizedassessmentsinsteadofthestatestandardizedtestsforhighschools. "Weknowstudentscan’tlearnifthey’rehungryoriftheydon’thaveeyeglassesoriftheydon’tfeelrespected.Thoseopportunitiesmatterand[instead]fordecadeswespenttimeandmoneyontests."-BeckyPringle,PresidentofNEA   3.ESSAempowerseducators. Educatorshaveagreatervoiceineducationalandinstructionaldecisions.Collaborationamongeducators,familiesandcommunitiesinsupportoflocalschoolsisincentivized. 4.ESSAisaboutthebigpicture. State-designedaccountabilitysystemsmustincludeatleastoneindicatorofschoolsuccessorstudentsupporttoensurethatstatesreportonopportunitygapsandtakeactiontoclosethem.Thiscouldincludeaccesstoadvancedcoursework,schoolclimateandsafetyfreefrombullying,finearts,regularphysicaleducation,andcounselorsornurses.  5.ESSAprotectsandsupportsourmostvulnerablestudents. Newprovisionsincentivizesupportsandinterventions,includingearlychildhoodeducationandfullservicecommunityschoolsprograms,tailoredtolocalneeds.ESSAalsopreservesthehistoricrolethefederalgovernmentplaysinprotectingthemostvulnerable:childrenofpoverty,studentswithdisabilities,andEnglish-languagelearners. ThePathwaytoEducatorVoice 1 OF 1 References SeeMore SeeLess Downloads OpportunityDashboardIndicatorwithChart-June2020PDF ModelSchoolBoardResolutiononFamily&CommunityEngagementinESSAPlans-2020PDF LearnMore 1 HowESSAimprovestheassessmentofstudentswithdisabilities 2 HowESSAimpactsearlychildhoodeducation 3 TeacherAcademiesUnderESSA DoMore 1 OpportunityDashboardIndicatorsinESSA 2 TheOpportunityAudit 3 ESSAAdvocacyinAction:HandbookandPracticeGuides Areyouanaffiliate? Jumptoupdates,opportunities,andresourcesforNEAstateandlocalaffiliates. Grantsandfunding Toolsandtrainings NewfromNEA OpportunityIsHere Dostudentsandeducatorsatyourschoolhaveeverythingtheyneed?Useourshortchecklisttoseewhatyourstudentsdeserveandwhereyourschoolcangrow. Completethechecklist StayInformed We'llcometoyou We'reheretohelpyousucceedinyourcareer,advocateforpublicschoolstudents,andstayuptodateonthelatesteducationnews.Signuptostayinformed Greatpublicschoolsforeverystudent TheNationalEducationAssociation(NEA),thenation'slargest professionalemployeeorganization,iscommittedtoadvancingthecauseof publiceducation.NEA's3millionmembersworkateverylevelof education—frompre-schooltouniversitygraduateprograms.NEAhas affiliateorganizationsineverystateandinmorethan14,000communities acrosstheUnitedStates. Aboutus Partnerwithus Advertisewithus