For Better or Worse, ESSA Puts Education Policy in the Hands of the States
December 9, 2019
The Every Student Succeeds Act still has its proponents and critics, but one thing they agree on is that the law has been successful in “giving states a greater hand in overseeing schools.” For some, however, concerns remain over “how states are measuring the success of long-underserved groups of students” and “how that information is being used to identify schools in need of improvement.” Supporters cite increased “input from teachers unions, civil rights groups, parents and others” as well as “innovative report cards designed to get more usable data to parents” as evidence of the law’s success. This article breaks down some of the law’s implementation hits and misses in various states.