The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed into law in December 2015. The law updates the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 with a focus on increased state and local autonomy, rigorous standards and state-centered accountability. Notably, ESSA was intentionally written to align with many provisions and requirements in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins), the federal law that funds and provides guidelines for state Career Technical Education (CTE). While many provisions in ESSA will not be implemented until the 2017-18 school year, planning efforts are currently underway.
This resource from Advance CTE explores the major intersections between ESSA and Perkins and describes opportunities to align the two. Specifically, the guide highlights how states can align standards, integrate career readiness measures into state accountability systems, integrate professional development and other supports, and more.
