A History of ESEA

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was first signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The ESEA was the first law that created a clear role for the federal government in the education space by offering more that $1 billion to districts to help cover the costs of educating disadvantaged students, now known as Title I schools.  Nearly 40 years later, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) into law in 2002 which reauthorized the original ESEA and seeks to increase the federal role in holding schools accountable for student outcomes.

In December 2015, the U.S. Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a new law to replace NCLB. President Obama subsequently signed ESSA into law on Dec. 10, 2015. The Every Student Succeeds Act seeks to give state and local governments more control over their public education systems.  Click below for more in depth resources about ESSA.

Navigating ESSA

ESSA contains many important but complex provisions affecting children in schools across the nation.  National PTA, our constituent associations and advocates across the country are seeking to empower all families to be active participants in the state and local implementation of ESSA to ensure opportunities for all students. Click on the below topics to learn more about ESSA requirements that impact parents and families and how you can get involved to ensure that every child reaches their full potential.

Additional ESSA Information

For additional information and resources, click on the following below: