ESSA in Colorado - A Conversation on the Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act

Many different organizations have written summaries to help interested stakeholders digest this new 1000 page law!  We have posted a few brief summaries that may help you to understand what is in ESSA and how it is different than what was in No Child Left Behind (NCLB).  Included are:

Title II Part D of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) prioritized education technology in elementary and secondary schools to improve student achievement. When Title II Part D received its last appropriation in 2010, direct funding for technology was eliminated, and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) had to look to other programs to pay for technology expenditures.  Over the past several years, a significant effort has been made to ensure that students have access to technology rich classrooms.

ESSA has made clear there will be additional opportunities to support early learning initiatives.  There are various sections throughout ESSA that promote a new focus on programs designed specifically to support early learning. These opportunities can be found in Title I, Title II, Title III and Title IX, Section 9212, which focuses on Preschool Development Grants.  

Districts using Title I funds to support early childhood programs will be required to comply with Head Start performance standards. 

Other highlights include funds and supports for, but not limited to:

Last Friday, February 26, six of us from CDE had the chance to join the leadership teams from the Departments of Ed in Utah, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona for a deep dive into the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It was a one-day crash course looking at accountability, teacher qualifications, use of funds, and flexibility. I came away with a much clearer understanding of our responsibilities over the next 18 months, but more importantly, I came away with tremendous excitement about what we can accomplish as a state.