Every Student Succeed Act

POL 201 – American National Government

Ashford University

Introduction: Every Student Succeed Act

What comes to mind when you think about education? We know that we need a proper education in order to be success in life. Over the years, education has been constantly changing; thinking of new strategies, only to find that they still needed improvised. Going back to 1965, when President Johnson created The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), a law to improve/provide quality education for low income families by providing federal funding to less fortunate school districts. In 2002 the ESEA was reauthorized under George W. Bush, creating the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to hold schools accountable for students with disabilities performance. Under the NCLB, many were still complaining of inequality education. The law was scheduled for revision in 2007, however, overtime the NCLB’s requirements became increasingly unworkable for schools and educators (U.S. Department of Education).In 2010, the Obama administration had the opportunity to listen in on a call of educators and families to help them develop a new law that focuses primarily on preparing students for college and careers. It was then in 2015, when President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act. Every Child regardless a variety of differencesshould be provided with an equal and good quality education.The Every Student Succeed Act is needed as it will hold those responsible for accountability of students’ failing and give students the opportunity to receive the proper resources in order to succeed.

Historical and Constitutional Background

The Every Student Succeed Act began in 1965 during President Johnson’s “War on Poverty” campaign. During the time that Johnson saw how education was failing at first hand and created a law known as The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The ESEA was one of the nation’s biggest education laws passed that ensures an equal opportunity for all students. Johnson not only to relieve symptoms of poverty but to prevent it at all cost,which led to the creation of various programs such as providing greater educational opportunities for children who are living in poverty (Estes, & Krogh 2012).The goal of the ESEA was created to improve educational equity for low- income families and school districts (Lee, 2018). The ESEA was reauthorized in 2002 by President George W. Bush. Bush created the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), a revision of the ESEA. The No Child Left Behind Act kept track of student’s progress, holding schools accountable for students performance. In 2007, the No Child Left Behind Act was supposed to be revised, however, debates were still at aall time high while many schools and educators continued to face challenges.In 2015, the Obama adminstration along with President Obama presented the ESSA. On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA), replacing the NCLB and reauthorizing the ESEA (Darrow, 2016). The Every Student Succeed Act was put into place to ensure public schools provided quality education for all kids. The ESSA allows states to decide on their own education plan and goals within the guidelines of the federal government (Wardlow, 2016). Since the Every Student Succeed Act their has been significant changes within the educational system such as the drop out rates and graduation rates.

Checks and Balances

With the No Child Left Behind Act failing and congress struggling to make decisions about the revision of the NCLB act, everyone agreed that it was time for something new (Michael, 2017). Under the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government was over the decision makingin regards to education.Under the Every Student Succceed Act, the governments federal role is decresed, returning power to the states allowing them to design education systems as they best see fit(Egalite, Fusarelli, &Fusarelli, 2017).The ESSA places strict limits on the use that the federal government has over education.

Public Policy, Elections, and Media

In the past, the public policy has played a major role in getting information out to the public. According to the textbook, the publicneeds to stay informed when there are changes, this way they can decide on their children’s future (Fine, &Levin-Waldman, 2016).This is the first time since the 1980s that the government has scaled back federal involvement in schools.Each individual state will now be incharge of making decisions, surrounding teacher evaluations, school turnarounds, and assessments of student success. With this in affect, hight school rates have been increasing, dropout rates are decreasing, and graduation rates are rising. Parents are able to attend school board meeting where they get to speak in regards to education and how to continue bettering the education system.Expecting parents and parents in general will be able to look at statistics within any school district within any state. The media and how people portraythe Every Student Succeed Act gives positive remarks on how they would suggest things changes and what they like/dislike about the policy.Parents are able to stay aware of what is happening in regards toeducation as a topic and a parent. Families are welcome to be involved within their children’s education that way their actively involved. The Obama Administration had the communities views in mind when creating the Every Student Succeed Act (U.S. Department of Education). When the public heard of the ESSA, everyone felt that this was a good way of implementing all the needs under one policy.

Voting and the Election Process

The Every Student Succeed Act impacts voting because each parent wants to see their child excel. The community has a great need for citizens to fulfill careers which also has a demand for a good education. As election time comes near education is one topic that candidates get asked about and provide their views on. As election time draws near the community; particularly parents and grandparents will vote for the candidate that has the most to offer when it comes to education. In 2015, the people spoke on their needs and acted on what they believed in when it came to education.On December 10, 2015 President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law. Democrats and Republicans were in agreement that it was time to replace the NCLB. The ESSA allows states to work independently with their senator on how they feel the school districts shouldgo based offstatistics; grades, test scores, and other factors. It gives them more freedom to vote as a state on what they think they can do to get these schools test scores up. Every state is different and will have their own goals, opinions, and standards in place.

Conclusion

The Every Student Succeed Act, a reauthorization of the ESEA, was established and put into place to prepare every student for success when/during college and careers (Darrow, 2016). A student’s race, background, or family’s financial status should not determinewhere they go to school or what type of education they will receive.Having a proper education is an important acquired trait. In 2015, The NCLB policy was done away with and the signing of the ESSA by President Obama was done, ensuring each student will receive a quality education. Before the Every Student Succeed Act there was the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act that President George W. Bush put into place to improve the quality of children’s education. The ESSA is so remarkable because it allows states to decide on their individual state’s goals, after over a 50 year revision of the ESEA put into place by President Johnson in 1965. Looking back at years of implements, mistakes, corrections, debating, and issue with prior policies put in place, there was a need for a plan in place that provided what was best for students to excel.

References

Darrow, A.-A. (2016). The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). General Music Today, 30(1), 41–44. Retrieved from https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/

Fine, T. S., & Levin-Waldman, O. M. (2016). American government (2nd ed.). Retrieved fromhttps://content.ashford.edu/

Egalite, Anna J.; Fusarelli, Lance D.; Fusarelli, Bonnie C. (2016, December). Will Decentralization Affect Educational Inequity? The Every Student Succeed Act.

Howell, W., West, M., & Peterson, P. (2017, July 13). What Americans Think about Their Schools. Retrieved from https://www.educationnext.org

Lee, A. (2018, April). Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org

Michael Heise. (2017). From No Child Left behind to Every Student Succeeds: Back to a Future for Education Federalism. Columbia Law Review, 117(7), 1859.

Wardlow, L. (2016, October 5). The Every Student Succeeds Act in historical context. Retrieved from https://www.pearsoned.com