Every Student Succeeds Act

Information regarding California's plan to implement the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), reauthorizing the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replacing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the 2001 reauthorization of ESEA.

Information regarding the ESSA and the development of California's plan to implement the new federal education act is provided below. New information and guidance will be added as it becomes available. If you would like to be notified when new information is available, please join the California Department of Education (CDE) ESSA listserv by sending a blank e-mail message to join-essa@mlist.cde.ca.gov.

On July 12, 2018, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos approved California’s ESSA State Plan.

ESSA State Plan - Final Version (PDF; Posted 12-Jul-2018)
Secretary De Vos ESSA State Plan Approval Letter

California ESSA State Plan Drafts

Waiver Requests

The California State Board of Education directed the CDE to submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education related to the English Learner Progress Indicator. The CDE submitted the waiver request on May 16, 2018.

CDE Waiver Request Letter to the ED – May 2018

California Correspondence and Resources

State Board of Education (SBE) Agenda Items Related to ESSA

Stakeholder Outreach to Inform ESSA State Plan Development

Letters from the CDE to local educational agencies (LEAs):

October 12, 2017: Educational Stability Requirements for Students in Foster Care

September 11, 2017: ESSA – Update #9

July 14, 2017: ESSA – Update #8

May 11, 2017: Public Comment Period for Draft of California's ESSA State Plan

February 22, 2017: Federal Funding to Support Arts Education
(updated on 31-Aug-17 to address minor typographical errors)

February 9, 2017: ESSA – Update #7

January 18, 2017: ESSA – Update #6

November 15, 2016: ESSA – Update #5

May 23, 2016: ESSA – Update #4

May 6, 2016: 2016–17 Data Collection Changes for California's New Accountability and Continuous Improvement System

April 15, 2016: ESSA – Update #3

February 29, 2016: ESSA – Update #2

January 14, 2016: ESSA – Update #1

Evidence-Based Interventions Under the ESSA

ESSA 2016–17 School Year Transition Plan

CDE ESSA Listserv Archive

CDE ESSA Presentations

California Practitioners Advisory Group

U.S. Department of Education Correspondence and Resources

U.S. Department of Education (ED) ESSA Web Page

Text of the ESEA as amended by the ESSA (PDF; Posted 05-Oct-2017)

ED Transitioning to the ESSA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF; Posted 18-Jan-2017)

ED ESSA Resources, Guidance, and Regulatory Information

ESSA Guidance

Consolidated State Plan FAQs (PDF)

Accountability FAQs (PDF)

Resource Guide: Accountability for English Learners Under the ESSA (PDF)

State and Local Report Cards Guidance (PDF)

High School Graduation Rate Guidance (PDF)

Assessment Use of Funds Guidance (PDF)

Fiscal Changes and Equitable Services Requirements Guidance (PDF)

Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants Guidance (PDF)

Early Learning Guidance (PDF)

Schoolwide Guidance (PDF)

Guidance for Title II, Part A: Building Systems of Support for Excellent Teaching and Leading (PDF)
- Title II Guidance Press Release

Title III Guidance - English Learners (PDF)
- Title III Guidance Press Release

Evidence Guidance (PDF)

Evidence Guidance Press Release

Homeless Student Guidance (PDF)
- Homeless Student Guidance Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Homeless Student Notice of Rights and Protections

Foster Care Guidance (PDF)

ESSA Final Regulations

Assessment Final Regulations

Accountability, State Plans, and Data Reporting Final Regulations (PDF; Dated 28-Nov-2016)

Final Accountability Regulations Fact Sheet (PDF)
Timeline for identification of schools for support and improvement (PDF)
Final Accountability Regulations Press Release
Consolidated State Plan Template (DOC; Dated 29-Nov-2016)
Assurances Template (DOC; Dated 29-Nov-2016)
Please note: The President signed the Congressional resolution disapproving these regulations on March 27, 2017, which means that the regulations have no force or effect. ED has released a revised consolidated State Plan template that conforms to this development:

ESSA Proposed Regulations

Supplement, Not Supplant under Title I Proposed Regulations (Dated 06-Sep-2016)

SSPI and SBE President Joint Response to Proposed Supplement, Not Supplant Regulations (Dated 08-Nov-2016)

Title I, Part A: Assessments Proposed Regulations (The final version of this set of regulations is available above, under "ESSA Final Regulations")
Title I, Part B: Innovative Assessment Pilot Proposed Regulations (The final version of this set of regulations is available above, under "ESSA Final Regulations")