ESSA Implementation

Key Information:

On December 10, 2015, President Barack Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act, which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (P.L. 114-95) for the first time in 14 years. The new law is the product of months of congressional negotiations and stakeholder input, and places an unprecedented emphasis on the importance of career and technical education for all students.

The Department of Education (ED) is now working through the next steps to implement the new law, which is scheduled to be fully completed by the fall of 2017. ED has consulted with relevant stakeholder groups on its regulatory process for specific topics pursuant to its obligations under ESSA, and has issued several Dear Colleague letters and other forms of guidance regarding upcoming rulemaking activities. ACTE has provided feedback to these notifications on behalf of its members, and will continue to play an active role in ensuring the implementation process reflects the needs of CTE students and professionals.

Below are resources, tools and communications that may be helpful in ESSA implementation. This post will be updated with additional materials as they become available, so please check back often!

Official Guidance, Resources and Communications

• Department of Education - Transitioning to the Every Student Succeeds Act: Frequently Asked Questions
• Department of Education – ESSA Dear Colleague Letter
• Department of Education – Perkins IV and the Every Student Succeeds Act: Intersections and Opportunities
• ESSA Webinar Powerpoint and Audio Recording

ACTE Resources

• ACTE Fact Sheets on CTE in ESSA
  • Academics and CTE in the Classroom
  • Career Guidance and Counseling
  • Career Readiness Accountability
  • Teacher Recruitment, Training and Professional Development

Other Resources and Tools

ACTE has assembled the following resources to assist members and the CTE community in the transition to the new law. Check back soon for additional updates!

• Education Week Video - ESSA Explained: Inside the New Federal K-12 Law
• National School Boards Association: Transition Timetable and Frequently Asked Questions
• Council of Chief State School Officers – Getting Started: A Guide on Stakeholder Outreach
• Whiteboard Advisors: ESSA Implementation Timeline
• American Federation of Teachers – ESSA Fact Sheets: Career and Technical Education

In addition, we invite those interested in learning more about ESSA implementation to visit the following websites.

• U.S. Department of Education
• American Federation of Teachers
• National Education Association
• Council of Chief State School Officers
• AASA: The School Superintendents Association