In 2015, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The federal education law primarily focused on historically disadvantaged students. ESSA replaced No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has formed an ESSA study group to review the law and how it impacts the work of the agency. We are developing a plan to invite stakeholder participation in the development of a state plan that must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.
All ESSA requirements, except those pertaining to accountability, go into effect in the 2016-17 school year. New accountability systems must be in place by 2017-18.
For more information about ESSA, click here.