Scoring the New Every Student Succeeds Act

Tahsuda, Kimberly

Hess, R. (2015, November 30). Scoring the New Every Student Succeeds Act [Web log post]. Retrieved December 1, 2015, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rick_hess_straight_up/2015/11/scoring_the_new_every_student_succeeds_act.htm

Overview:

This article provides a “scorecard” for the recently passed Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) bill. After a brief, and useful, history of both the original law of the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) Act and the more recent and well-known version of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the author delineates criteria for judging the potential new law:

Does is promote transparency?

Does it end federal efforts to micro-manage school improvement?

Does it enable states to expand school choice?

Does it get the feds out of teacher business?

The article does not mention school libraries and is heavy on the commentary; however, it serves as brief history of the legislation and highlights the politics behind the impact of federal legislation on local education.