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.
Historical ESSA Plan Amendments
- Accelerated Tester Waiver Approval — July 2020
- Texas 20-21 Accountability Waiver USDE Response — April 1
- TAA: ESSA 20-21 Accountability Waiver — April 1
- Texas 20-21 Accountability Waiver — April 1 (PDF)
- ESSA State Plan Redline — April 1, 2021
- Proposed ESSA Waiver Request for One Percent Cap — December 21, 2020
- Proposed 2020–2021 State Plan Addendum — December 11, 2020
- Proposed ESSA Amendment Redline — December 11, 2020
- ESSA State Plan — Oct. 14, 2019
- ESSA State Plan Redline — Oct. 14, 2019
- ESSA Appendix A — June, 2019
- Redlined Submitted Amendment — January 31, 2020
- Accelerated Testers Waiver — Feb 2020.pdf
- Texas ESSA Waiver Request on Assessment and Accountability (PDF)
- Texas ESSA Waiver Request on Accelerated Testers — May 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.
- 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.
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.
Communications with U.S. Department of Education
- Texas Accelerated Testers Waiver Renewal Request (PDF)
- US Department of Education ESEA Title I Program Guidance (PDF)
- US Department of Education Response to ELP Amendment Request (PDF)
- US Department of Education Response to TELPAS (PDF)
- US Department of Education Texas Performance Review Report FY 2018 (PDF)
- US Department of Education Response to TEA Waiver Extension - Dec 20, 2019 (PDF)