What does the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) emphasize?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) emphasizes flexibility for states in education policy, which is a significant shift compared to its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act. ESSA aims to provide states with greater autonomy in setting their educational standards and accountability measures. This flexibility allows states to design their own educational strategies, choose their own assessment methods, and implement interventions that they believe will best serve their students.

The act encourages states to develop plans that reflect the unique needs of their student populations while still holding them accountable for student performance. This empowerment to create tailored educational policies supports a more localized approach to education governance, ultimately aiming to improve educational outcomes across diverse communities.

The other options do not capture the essence of ESSA. Increased federal control runs counter to the flexibility that ESSA provides to states. While there are provisions concerning testing, the overall framework of ESSA supports allowing states to determine their own assessment approaches rather than reducing testing outright. Finally, parity in funding for private schools is not a core element of ESSA; its focus is primarily on public education and enhancing equitable access to quality education for all students in public schools.