The Every Student Succeeds Act
On December 10, 2015, President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law.
Our goal continues to be helping to move the nation forward in its efforts to close the long-standing gaps in opportunity and achievement separating students of color and students from low-income communities from their peers.
The implementation work now falls squarely on state leadership, advocates, educators, parents, and policy makers and The Education Trust stands ready to work alongside you.
Below and on the connected pages are resources to help:
- Understand Key Elements of the Law
- In Depth Fact Sheets and Questions to Ask Your State Leaders
- The Latest Analysis and Ways to Improve Your State’s Plan
- School Improvement Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Evidence for School Improvement
- Early Interventions for School Improvement
- Escalated Interventions
- Expanding Access to Early Childhood Programs
- Recruiting, Equitably Assigning, and Retaining Strong Teachers for School Improvement
- School Leadership
- Rigorous Learning for All Students
- Ensuring a Positive School Climate and Culture
- Resource Allocation Reviews: A Critical Step to School Improvement
- A Guide to Advocating for Equity in Diverse Schools
- Understanding the Shortage of Teachers of Color In the United States
- Social Emotional Learning 101
- For Advocates: A Roadmap to Curriculum and Instructional Materials Adoption
- School Counselors Matter
Important Resources
Students Can’t Wait: Resources for Advocates to be Strong Voices for Equity
For Equity-Oriented State Leaders: 9 Ideas for Stimulating School Improvement Under ESSA
10 Principles for Equity and Improvement-Focused Accountability Systems
The Every Student Succeeds Act: What’s in It? What Does It Mean for Equity?
Related Staff
Lynn C. Jennings, Ph.D
Senior Director of National and State Partnerships
Lynn C. Jennings, Ph.D., is the senior director of national and state partnerships for The Education Trust. She leads…
Natasha Ushomirsky
State Director for Massachusetts
Natasha currently serves as the State Director for Massachusetts at The Education Trust. In this role, she builds relationships…
As state leaders work to implement the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), it’s critical that there be strong voices advocating for equity and achievement in every key decision.
Check out these resources, developed by the Students Can’t Wait Workgroup, intended to equip state and local advocates with information to do just that.
The Every Student Succeeds Act protects the right of every student — regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, home language, or family income — to receive a quality education.
Learn what you need to know — and what you can do — to make sure the law works for your child and other children in your communities.
