NCLB vs. ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
No Child Left Behind
Key Differences
- No Child Left Behind was put into place in 2001 by president George W. Bush.
- On December 10, 2015 President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law.
- http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/10/every-student-succeeds-act-vs-no-child-left-behind-whats-changed/77088780/
ASSESSMENTS
- NCLB- requires state testing in reading and math annually in grades 3-8 and once in high school
- ESSA-Same as NCLB but with the following changes:
- Allows states to use a single annual summative assessment or multiple statewide interim assessments throughoear that result in one summative score
- Allows districts to use other tests for high schools with state permission
- Allows states to develop and administer computer-adaptive assessments
- Allows states to limit the amount of time spent on assessments for each grade
- Prohibits the Secretary from specifying any aspect of assessments
- Requires districts to publicly post information on all required assessments, including the amount of time students spend taking the assessments
ACCOUNTABILITY
- NCLB-
- Required that 100% of students be proficient in reading and math by the end of school year 2013-2014
- Requires that schools make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for all students and subgroups
- ESSA-
- Eliminates AYP and the 100% proficiency requirement
- Prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any aspect of the accountability system, including indicators, weighting, and differentiation
- Allows states to decide how much weight to give tests in their accountability systems and determine what consequences, if any, should attach to poor performance. Requires states to give more weight to academic factors than other factors.
Key Points
Policy Areas:
- Educational Content
- Academic Standards
- Conditions for Student Learning
- School Accountability Framework
- College Career Readiness Reporting Requirements
- Technical Requirements of Assessments
- Interim and Formative Assessments
- Assessment Formats
- Gives states more control over standards and funding
- Test scores will be subject to standards set by each state
- Each state can choose how they would like to help an underperforming school - (Increased Title I)
- Gives power to states to determine how much weight is given to schools participation in assessment testing
Key Points of NCLB:
- Requires state testing in reading and math annually in grades 3-8 and once in high school.
- Requires challenging state standards in reading, math, and science at all grade levels.
- Requires states to apply the same academic standards to all schools and children.
- Required that 100% of students be proficient in reading and math by the end of school year 2013-14.
- Requires that schools make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for all students and subgroups.
- Reward successful schools and punish failing schools
- If a school was failing three years in a row, students must have other meaningful options. This would be paid for using tax dollars.
- The law has been passed but the changes will not be in effect until the 2017-2018 school year.
- Although there are guidelines to follow, each state has committees in place to develop more specific plans of action.
- These committees are identified and discussed on the PDE website.
What does ESSA mean for Pennsylvania classroom teachers?
- Factors such as resources, working conditions, and teacher voice must be considered
- Teacher evaluation will be used to grow and strengthen - not sort or punish
- Reasonable goals and objectives to align with the needs of students.
- Assessments will be used to inform and improve instruction - not measure them.