Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

ESSA Overview

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the federal K–12 education law. Parents can learn more about the nation's landmark education law by reading Understanding the Every Student Succeeds Act. ESSA was signed into law in 2015, replaced No Child Left Behind, and reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). ESEA was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

ESSA requires every state to measure performance in reading, math, and science. Every school must inform parents about their standards and their results.

ESSA requires every state to provide parents important information on test performance in reading, math, and science. The report cards must also provide data on graduation rates, suspensions, absenteeism, teacher qualifications, and many other areas. Texas parents may find this information on TXschools.gov and in data reports on the Performance Reporting pages.

ESSA Plan Information

Current ESSA Information

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) formally submitted the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) consolidated plan to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on Sept. 25, 2017. The USDE approved the state’s original 2017 ESSA plan on March 26, 2018. The most recent USDE approved state plan and amendments are provided below.

Amended ESSA Plan — December 2023

Historical ESSA Plan Amendments

Proposed ESSA Plan Amendment — September 2023

Approved ESSA Plan Amendment — August 2023

Proposed ESSA Plan Amendment — February 2023

Proposed ESSA Plan Amendment — January 2023

Amended ESSA Plan — March 2022

ESSA State Plan Redline — March 2022

Amended ESSA Plan — December 14, 2021

ESSA State Plan Redline — October 2021

Amended ESSA Plan — December 21, 2020

Original 2017 ESSA Plan Submission

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) formally submitted the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) consolidated plan to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on Sept. 25, 2017. After negotiations, the USDE approved the state’s ESSA plan on March 26, 2018. The final plan and amendments are provided below.

Final Submitted ESSA Plan — March 6, 2018

ESSA State Plan Cover Page-Final (PDF)
ESSA State Plan-Final (PDF)
ESSA Appendix A-Final (PDF)
ESSA Appendix C-Final (PDF)
ESSA Appendix D-Final (PDF)
ESSA Appendix E-Final (PDF)
ESSA Appendix F-Final (PDF)
ESSA Appendix G-Final (PDF)
ESSA Appendix H-Final (PDF)
Download the Originally Submitted State Plan - Sept. 25, 2017

ESSA in Texas

ESSA provides a unique opportunity for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to chart a path for shifting key decisions related to accountability, school improvement, teacher quality, and funding back to the state and local level. Commissioner Mike Morath is embracing this opportunity to maximize the new policy flexibility ESSA offers. Under Commissioner Morath’s leadership, TEA is advancing a key goal to establish one vision for the future of the agency, aligning key decision points in developing systems to support ESSA implementation with a new TEA Strategic Plan that will guide all TEA work. Tapping into the new opportunities that ESSA provides will allow for a singular focus on key state priority areas leading to greater levels of student achievement throughout our state.

Stakeholder Engagement

TEA, in collaboration with the Texas Comprehensive Center (TXCC), designed and carried out a comprehensive, multi-pronged engagement strategy beginning in January 2016 to collect stakeholder input and feedback to help shape the agency’s strategic direction, inform the development of innovative education systems, and create a unified framework across state and federal policy. This feedback contributed to the foundation of TEA’s Strategic Plan and the Texas ESSA Consolidated State Plan.

ESSA Stakeholder Engagement

Resources

The U.S. Department of Education's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) page to learn more about the law, ESSA highlights, the history of ESEA, and NCLB an Accountability.