Passing of ESSA

Everyone’s favorite Education Bill, No Child Left Behind, expired in 2007, and in 2015 Congress finally got around to doing something about it.  The new legislation is Every Student Succeeds Act, an effort that President Obama described as a “Christmas Miracle” because of its bi-partisan cooperation. But what does ESSA really do?

Well, in a nutshell the ESSA: A) Restores important authority over schools to the states, rather than the federal government, B) Provides $1.65 billion in grants for tech-related education programs (including professional development) and funds $1.6 billion per year in ongoing funds through 2020, C) Provides $1 billion to create “21^st century community learning centers” to provide innovative ways of delivering education, D) Still emphasizes testing, but puts the responsibility in the state’s court, and E) Provides funding for training and retention of effective STEM teachers.

It is not a “perfect solution” by any stretch, and even the most ardent supporters of the legislation would like to see it do more, but all education groups seem to be supportive of the positive steps that the legislation does take toward restoring some autonomy to the states and funding new technology programs.

For more details regarding the new law, you can check these sites:

http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-congress-acts-fix-no-child-left-behind

https://thejournal.com/Articles/2015/12/03/Blended-Learning-Professional-Development-Make-Gains-in-ESEA-Overhaul.aspx?Page=1

http://www.iste.org/advocacy/public-policy/reauthorization-of-the-elementary-and-secondary-education-act

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