On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into federal law. A reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), ESSA returns great authority to the states, and state boards of education play an essential role in determining their state’s course for implementation. NASBE is working to help state board members understand the new law and provide them with the right tools and information they need to make decisions that can ensure all students receive an excellent education. Below is a compilation of helpful resources from NASBE and other organizations to learn more about ESSA.

ESSA Statute and Guidance
Stakeholder Engagement
Selecting Accountability Indicators

ESSA Statute  and Guidance

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Statute, available here

US Department of Education Final Regulations:

  • Final Regulation for Assessments: Title I, Part A, available here (December 7, 2016)
  • Final Regulation for Assessments: Title I, Part B, available here ( December 7, 2016)
  • Final Regulation for Accountability, State Plans, and Data Reporting: Title I, Part A and Part B, available here (November 28, 2016)

US Department of Education Non-Regulatory Guidance:

  • ESSA Assessment Use of Funds Guidance, available here
  • Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program: Title IV, Part A, available here
  • Early Learning, available here
  • Support for Excellent Teaching and Leading: Title II, Part A, available here
  • English Learners and Title III Program, available here
  • Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments, available here
  • Children in Foster Care, available here
  • Homeless Student Guidance, available here

US Department of Education “Dear Colleague Letters”

  • Dear Colleague Letter on Stakeholder Engagement (U.S. Department of Education) available here
  • Dear Colleague Letter on Tribal Consultation (U.S. Department of Education) available here

ESSA Overview:

    • ESSA: Quick Guides on Top Issues (Education Commission of the States), available here
    • Education Primer: Basic Provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (National Conference of State Legislators), available here
    • ESSA Essentials – (ASCD) available here

 

Stakeholder Engagement

  • NASBE Regional Stakeholder Engagement Meetings, January 17th in Atlanta, GA {Register here} and February 2 in Denver, CO {Register Here}
  • Webinar: Ensuring Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement under ESSA (NASBE), recording available here
  • Let’s Get this Conversation Started (CCSSO) available here
  • Let’s Keep this Conversation Going (CCSSO) available here
  • Digital Communications Toolkit – CCSSO, available here
  • Promotional Materials Toolkit – CCSSO, available here
  • Handbook for Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement (Partners for Each and Every Child) available here
  • In Consultation With…The Case for Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement (Partners for Each and Every Child) available here
  • Parent and Family Engagement in ESSA (National Council of La Raza), available here
  • Every Student Succeeds Act: Consultation (National Indian Education Association), available here
  • Parent Engagement Guidelines & Discussion Framework (PTA) available here
  • Advocacy Materials from Students Can’t Wait (Education Trust) available here
  • Collaborative Stakeholder Engagement Guide (Education Commission of the States) available here
  • Guiding Principles on Stakeholder Engagement as Required in ESSA (Learning First Alliance) available here

Advancing Equity under ESSA

  • NASBE Policy Update Series: ESSA and At-Risk Student Populations (NASBE) available here
  • Equity and ESSA: Leveraging Educational Opportunity through the Every Student Succeeds Act (Learning Policy Institute) available here
  • Advancing Equity through ESSA: Strategies for State Leaders (CCSSO) available here
  • The Every Student Succeeds Act: What’s in It?  What Does It Mean for Equity? (The Education Trust) available here

Assessment

 Selecting Accountability Indicators

  • NASBE Summary/Comparison of Final Accountability Regulations (NASBE and Foresight Policy + Law) available here
  • Building an Accountability System under ESSA and Reporting on Student Progress – NASBE Webinar on December 15, 2016, register here
  • Students Can’t Wait Fact sheets on benefits, risks, and considerations associated with specific accountability indicators, available here
    • Advanced Coursework Factsheet, available here
    • Chronic Absenteeism Factsheet, available here
    • College-Prep Course Sequence Completion Factsheet, available here
    • English-Language Proficiency Fact Sheet, available here
    • Individual Student Growth Fact Sheet, available here
    • Measuring Career Readiness Factsheet, available here
    • School Discipline Factsheet, available here
    • Social-Emotional Indicators Factsheet, available here
    • Indicator “Traffic Light Table”, available here
  • Innovation in Accountability: Designing Systems to Support School Quality and Student Success – Center for American Progress, available here
  • Pathways to New Accountability through the Every Student Succeeds Act – Learning Policy Institute, available here
  • High Stakes for High Achievers: State Accountability in the Age of ESSA – Fordham Institute, available here
  • High Stakes for High Schoolers: State Accountability in the Age of ESSA, Part II – Fordham Institute, available here
  • ESSA Indicators of School Quality and Student Success – Chiefs for Change, available here
  • Overview of Proposed Accountability Models – CCSSO, available here
  • An Introduction to School Accountability Under ESSA – Students Can’t Wait, available here
  • Setting Ambitious and Attainable Accountability Goals – Students Can’t Wait, available here
  • Lessons for Broadening School Accountability under the Every Student Succeeds Act – Brookings Institution, available here

School Improvement

  • Overview of the School Improvement Process – Students Can’t Wait, available here
  • Critical Area Outline on School Improvement Supports – CCSSO, available here
  • School Intervention Considerations – CCSSO, available here
  • Implementing Change: Rethinking School Improvement Strategies and Funding Under the Every Student Succeeds Act – Chiefs for Change, available here
  • Seven Tenets for sustainable School Turnaround – Center for American Progress, available here

Public Reporting

  • Show Me the Data: State Report Cards Must Answer Questions and Inform Action – Data Quality Campaign, available here
  • Opportunities to Make Data Work for Students in the Every Student Succeeds Act – Data Quality Campaign, available here
  • Memo on State Report Card Requirements – CCSSO & Penn Hill Group, available here

Teachers and Leaders

  • Teachers & School Leaders: What’s in the Every Student Succeeds Act? – The Education Trust, available here
  • Critical Area Outline on Teacher and Leader Quality – CCSSO, available here
  • Teacher Preparation Considerations in ESSA, available here
    Teacher Evaluation and Equity Considerations in ESSA – CCSSO, available here
  • ESSA Title II-A: Preparing, Training and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers, Principals, and Other School Leaders – Chiefs for Change, available here

English Language Learners

  • What the Every Student Succeeds Act Means for Latino Students and English Learners – NCLR webinar, available here
  • Critical Area Outline: English Language Learners – CCSSO, available here
  • English Learner Considerations in ESSA – CCSSO, available here
  • Dual Language Learners: State Options Under the Every Student succeeds Act – NCSL, available here
  • ESSA Primer: Native Language Immersion – NIEA, available here

Students with Disabilities

  • Key Provisions and Implications for Students with Disabilities – CCSSO, available here
  • Benefits and Considerations for Students with Disabilities – Students Can’t Wait, available here

ESSA and Early Childhood Education

  • Opportunities in ESSA for Improving Early Education – NASBE, available here
  • ESSA and Early Childhood Education: Opportunities for State Leadership – CCSSO, available here

Foster Students

  • New Requirements for Educating Student in Foster Care – AASA, available here
  • Considerations for Local Educational Agencies in Developing Transportation Procedures for Students in Foster Care Under ESSA – NAEHCY, available here
  • How will the Every Student Succeeds Act Support Students in Foster Care? Juvenile Law Center, available here

Homeless Students

  • New Requirements in ESSA Impacting the Education of Homeless Students– AASA, available here
  • Frequently Asked Questions on the Education Rights of Children and Youth in Homeless Situations – NAEHCY, available here

Funding

  • Decision Guide for ESSA Implementation: State Considerations for Effective Grant Programs – CCSSO, available here
  • Every Student Succeeds Act Primer: Personalized Learning – Alliance for Excellent Education, available here