The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) funds K-12 education throughout the nation and emphasizes equitable access to education, high standards and accountability. ESSA both encourages and allows school districts to strengthen Career Technical Education (CTE) through an emphasis on a “well-rounded education” (which includes CTE programs and activities). With newfound flexibility under the law, districts can create cross-sector partnerships and use ESSA to break down silos and better serve each student according to his or her needs.
This suite of tools from the Aspen Institute, Education Counsel, and Education First identifies eight equity priorities many leaders are already pursuing and identifies potential barriers to equity, key decision points, and opportunities to braid and blend federal funds to strengthen local equity priorities. This is a useful tool for stakeholders looking to leverage ESSA as a tool to break down siloes between traditional federal programs and local initiatives to advance equity in education.
