The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed in 2015, replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. It maintains a focus on equity for all students, while giving states and local school districts much more ownership over systems of school accountability and support. In Iowa, ESSA has been a great opportunity to build on bold education improvements underway that align with ESSA requirements, including clear and rigorous standards for what students should know and be able to do, a school accountability system that targets support where and when schools need it most and a structure for professional learning that emphasizes teacher leadership and evidence-based practices. The ESSA Support website provides a repository of tools and resources to support the work aligned to Iowa's ESSA Plan:
ESSA Support Site
For more information, contact Karla Day, Heartland AEA Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant at kday@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14321 or Amy Wichman, Heartland AEA Regional Director at awichman@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 18143.
