Every Student Succeeds Act

ESSA Facts

President Obama closed the chapter on No Child Left Behind’s destructive brand of school improvement when he signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act in December 2015. ESSA offers a bold new opportunity for states and districts to move beyond top-down, test-and-sanction-based reforms that have failed to help all kids. It’s a sea change in education policy that AFT fought long and hard to achieve. The changes offer the potential to restore the joy of teaching and learning, if we all engage in the hard work that must now begin at the state level. Learn more about the new law with these AFT resources:

• ESSA 101: Fundamentals of the Law, Brief One
• ESSA 101: Developing Your State Plan, Brief Two
• Leveraging the Every Student Succeeds Act to Move Toward New Accountability
• How Will ESSA Affect Schools in Your State?
  English | Spanish
• Presentation: Key Features of ESSA
  English | Spanish
• ESSA FAQs
  English | Spanish