ESEA

Learn more about the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the primary federal education law
The U.S. Department of Education, in Washington, D.C., pictured on February 21, 2021.
The U.S. Department of Education, in Washington, D.C., pictured on February 21, 2021.
Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images
Federal Explainer The U.S. Department of Education, Explained
There's a lot of talk—again—about eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Here's what it does and how it works.
Libby Stanford, October 14, 2024
11 min read
Students participate in a school archery program. A group of congressional lawmakers are working to amend federal law to ensure schools can purchase bow and arrows and other supplies for archery, sharp shooting, and hunting programs in schools.
Students participate in a school archery program. A group of congressional lawmakers are working to amend federal law to ensure schools can purchase bow and arrows and other supplies for school archery, sharp shooting, and hunting programs with federal education funds.
Courtesy of the National Archery in the Schools Program
Federal Is Funding for School Archery and Hunting Programs Really at Risk?
A U.S. Department of Education document led to confusion among school administrators about funding for archery and hunting programs.
Libby Stanford, September 18, 2023
4 min read
Photo of magnifying glass and charts.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Standards & Accountability What the Research Says What Should Schools Do to Build on 20 Years of NCLB Data?
The education law yielded a cornucopia of student information, but not scalable turnaround for schools, an analysis finds.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 29, 2023
3 min read
Image of school space.
Naulicreative/iStock/Getty
Classroom Technology The Most Popular Ed-Tech Products Don’t Meet Research Standards
Only 26 percent of the most-used K-12 ed-tech products meet federal requirements, a new report says.
Lauraine Langreo, March 8, 2023
1 min read
Close up of a student holding pencil and writing the answer on a bubble sheet assessment test with blurred students at their desks in the background
iStock/Getty
Standards & Accountability Education Secretary: Standardized Tests Should No Longer Be a 'Hammer'
But states won't ease accountability requirements until federal law tells them to do so, policy experts say.
Libby Stanford, January 31, 2023
5 min read
Federal How Does Current Law Limit Betsy DeVos' Power to Waive Education Mandates?
Several of the already existing restrictions on U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' authority to waive federal education law deal with school funding.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 24, 2020
7 min read
Federal Bernie Sanders' Record on Testing and No Child Left Behind: A Brief History
The Democratic presidential candidate likes to highlight his vote against the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, although his record on the issue of high-stakes standardized testing isn't black and white.
Andrew Ujifusa, February 26, 2020
6 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Getty/Getty
Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA Voices: The Every Student Succeeds Act, Four Years Later
The Every Student Succeeds Act is now four years old; here’s what educators and officials from across the K-12 spectrum think about where it stands.
19 min read
Federal ESSA Strategy Guide Says 'Lighter Lift' Should Be an Option for School Leaders
The report suggests when it comes to using evidence to improve schools under Every Student Succeeds Act, the most demanding option may not always be the best one for state and local education leaders.
Andrew Ujifusa, November 7, 2019
2 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Getty
Every Student Succeeds Act Opinion How the Trump Administration Is Falling Short on ESSA
Just who's responsible for ESSA anymore? Megan Duff and Priscilla Wohlstetter share three takeaways from researching the law's implementation.
Megan Duff & Priscilla Wohlstetter, July 15, 2019
5 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act Video What ESSA Means for Assessment and Testing
The Every Student Succeeds Act gives states new openings to shape student-testing regimes to their own liking, including innovative pilot programs and fresh options on how to meet federal requirements. How do testing provisions under ESSA and the previous federal law—No Child Left Behind—differ? Associate editor Stephen Sawchuk examines what the new law means in the testing arena. This video was filmed following Education Week’s virtual summit on ESSA, where online participants submitted their questions about the upcoming implementation of the new federal law.
Mark Bomster & Stephen Sawchuk, June 12, 2019
5:25
Every Student Succeeds Act How Many Schools Are Low-Performing Under ESSA? Here Are Some Answers
A Center on Education Policy report reveals the share of schools getting identified as needing improvement varies widely by state, with one labeling 69 percent of its schools this way for ESSA purposes.
Andrew Ujifusa, May 19, 2019
3 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act Limited Impact So Far From ESSA's School-Spending Data
Advocates have high hopes that the new law’s school-level data will fuel debate over spending, but the numbers are still trickling out.
Daarel Burnette II, May 7, 2019
5 min read
Standards & Accountability States Fall Short on School Data Transparency, Advocacy Group Says
After reviewing states’ school report cards, the Data Quality Campaign says dozens of states are failing to offer a clear window into the data they’re required to collect under ESSA.
Daarel Burnette II, April 3, 2019
7 min read