Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

 The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)​ was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015. ESSA includes provisions that will help to ensure success for students and schools across the country, including Kentucky. According to the U.S. Department of Education, ESSA:

• Advances equity by upholding critical protections for America's disadvantaged and high-need students.
• Requires—for the first time—that all students in America be taught to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed in college and careers.
• Ensures that vital information is provided to educators, families, students, and communities through annual statewide assessments that measure students' progress toward those high standards.
• Helps to support and grow local innovations—including evidence-based and place-based interventions developed by local leaders and educators—consistent with our Investing in Innovation and Promise Neighborhoods​
• Maintains an expectation that there will be accountability and action to effect positive change in our lowest-performing schools, where groups of students are not making progress, and where graduation rates are low over extended periods of time. 

In April 2021, KDE submitted proposed revisions to the May 2020 plan to reflect alignment with SB 158 (2020) and update current initiatives.  An overview of the proposed revisions is below.

• Overview of accountability changes to align with KY SB 158 (2020)
• Updates the Kentucky Board of Education vision statement
• Section A. Title 1, Part A:
  Updates to the standards development process and timeline to reflect current work
  Updates minimum N count to 30 for accountability and 10 for reporting
  Adds progress toward English Language Proficiency as indicator in school accountability
  Updates timeline/process to align with USED accountability waivers
• Section D. Title II, Part A:
  Updates to timelines/dates
  Clarifies the KDE role in Kentucky Excellence in Educator Preparation (KEEP)
• Section F. Title IV, Part A:
  Adds Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
• Section G. Title IV:
  Renames Progress Risk Assessment to Progress Self-Assessment
  Renames Desk Review to Technical Assistance (TA) Visit
• Section I. McKinney-Vento:
  
Updates to data collection process
Outlines the KDE role in Kentucky Early Intervention Services (KEIS)