Friday, March 11, 2016

Legislative Conference 2016 / ESSA / Every Student Succeeds Act



Congrats to Lisa Mack, Immediate Past Ohio PTA President named committee member to the U.S. Department of Education to help draft regulations in ESSA


PTA Resources for Families on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Overview of ESEA and ESSA

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was first passed in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. In December 2015, the U.S. Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a new law to replace the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). President Obama subsequently signed ESSA into law on December 10, 2015.

ESSA Timeline SnippetClick to enlarge and view the full timeline of the ESEA Bill

With a new ESEA/ESSA, focus for advocacy now turns to effective implementation of the law to ensure every child has the ability to reach their full potential. While this new law provides a great opportunity for states to tailor their education systems to meet the needs of their students—including students with disabilities—this new level of authority will also require an increased amount of responsibility for states to ensure they close achievement gaps.
National PTA, our constituent associations, and advocates across the country will seek to support and empower all families to be active participants in the state and local implementation of ESSA to ensure equity and opportunity for all students.

The U.S. Department of Education is currently in the implementation phase of ESSA. The Department will provide guidance and clarification to states on how best to carry out the new law. You can get involved in the implementation process by signing up for emails from the Department of Education on ESSA implementation.

ESSA Resources

PTA Logo ESSAOverview of ESSA, National PTA
PTA Logo ESSATitle I Summary of ESSA, National PTA
PTA Logo ESSATitle II Summary of ESSA, National PTA
PTA Logo ESSATitle IV Summary of ESSA, National PTA
PTA Logo ESSAESSA: What Does This New Law Mean for my Child?, National PTA
PTA Logo ESSAFamily Engagement in ESSA, National PTA
PTA Logo ESSAStatewide Family Engagement Centers One-Pager, National PTA
Department of Education IconU.S. Department of Education ESSA Site
Department of Education IconFAQ on the Transition to ESSA, U.S. Department of Education 
Department of Education IconFAQ on Negotiated Rulemaking, U.S. Department of Education

National PTA Statements and Letters on ESEA Reauthorization

To view each letter or press release, click the blue icon to the left of the title.
February 2016
Press Release IconNational PTA Statement on President Obama's 2017 Budget Proposal
Letters to Policymakers IconThe State and Local ESSA Implementation Network letter of commitment to put students first sent on February 10.
January 2016
Letters to Policymakers IconImplementation recommendations to the Department of Education on Title I of ESSA sent on January 21.
December 2015
Press Release IconDecember 10, 2015 — National PTA Lauds President Obama's Signing of Landmark Every Student Succeeds Act
Press Release IconDecember 9, 2015 — National PTA Applauds Senate Passage of Every Student Succeeds Act
Letters to Policymakers IconEvery Student Succeeds Act letter of support sent December 7.
Letters to Policymakers IconHouse passage of the conference report to reauthorize ESEA letter of support sent December 4.
Press Release IconDecember 2, 2015 — National PTA Commends House Passage of Every Student Succeeds Act
November 2015
Press Release IconNovember 19, 2015 — National PTA Commends Passage of Bipartisan Agreement to Reauthorize Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Press Release IconNovember 18, 2015 — National PTA Applauds Conference Committee Meeting on ESEA Reauthorization
Letters to Policymakers IconInclusion of an education data privacy study committee in the ESEA reauthorization letter of support sent November 9.
Press Release IconNovember 2, 2015 — National Education Groups Continue to Push Congress to Get ESEA Done, Begin Weeklong Ad Campaign
October 2015
Letters to Policymakers IconSchool vouchers in the reauthorization of ESEA letter of opposition sent October 13.
September 2015
Letters to Policymakers IconReauthorization of Statewide Family Engagement Centers program letter of support sent September 30.
July 2015
Letters to Policymakers IconA successful reauthorization of ESEA letter of support sent July 22.
Letters to Policymakers IconQuick action needed on naming and starting an ESEA conference committee letter of support sent July 22.
Press Release IconJuly 16, 2015—National PTA Commends Senate Passage of Every Child Achieves Act
Press Release IconJuly 14, 2015 — National PTA Applauds Senate Passage of ESEA/NCLB Amendment to Strengthen Family Engagement in Education
Letters to Policymakers IconSupport and opposition to certain amendments in the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 letter sent July 13.
Press Release IconJuly 8, 2015 — National PTA Statement on House Passage of Student Success Act
Letters to Policymakers IconSupport and opposition to certain provisions in the Student Success Act of 2015 letter sent July 8.
Letters to Policymakers IconA-PLUS ACT and school voucher amendments to the Student Success Act of 2015 letter of opposition sent July 8.
Letters to Policymakers IconKirk-Reed-Baldwin-Brown amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 letter of support sent on July 7.
Letters to Policymakers IconNational PTA's priorities in the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 letter sent on July 6.
June 2015
Letters to Policymakers IconTitle I funding portability and school vouchers in the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 letter of opposition sent June 30.
May 2015
Letters to Policymakers IconPhysical education as a core subject and restoring PEP in the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 letter of support sent May 1.
April 2015
Letters to Policymakers IconInclusion of family engagement provisions in the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 letter of support sent April 13.
Letters to Policymakers IconNational PTA’s positions on the Every Child Ready for College or Career Act of 2015 discussion draft sent April 13.
Press Release IconApril 8, 2015 — National PTA Statement on Every Child Achieves Act
January 2015
Letters to Policymakers IconAmending section 1501 of ESEA letter of support sent January 28.
Letters to Policymakers IconTitle I portability provision of the HELP Committee’s ESEA-NCLB reauthorization discussion draft letter of opposition sent January 26.
Letters to Policymakers IconThe Coalition for Community Schools' recommendations for ESEA-NCLB reauthorization in the 114th Congress sent January 26.
Press Release IconJanuary 12, 2015 — National PTA Applauds Administration's Call for Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

National PTA Blog Posts on ESEA Reauthorization

Blog Post IconThe Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 Senate Passage
Blog Post IconSpecial Video Message from President Bay: Thank You PTA Advocates!
Blog Post IconThe Every Child Achieves Act Makes it Through the First Week of Floor Debates
Blog Post IconOn Second Attempt, House Passes ESEA/NCLB Reauthorization Bill
Blog Post IconElementary and Secondary Education Act-No Child Left Behind to Be Reauthorized
Blog Post IconESEA Reauthorization Needs Stronger Family Engagement Provisions
Blog Post IconSenate Education Committee Passes Every Child Achieves Act
Blog Post IconNational PTA Advocates on Capitol Hill for Family Engagement and Reauthorization of the ESEA