Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Overview
Purpose
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides federal needs-based funding for K-12 education throughout the nation and emphasizes equitable access to education, high standards, and related systems of accountability.
Status
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, originally passed in 1965, was reauthorized by Congress in December 2015 and renamed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The U.S. Department of Education reviewed and approved state ESSA plans, which were initially submitted and approved in 2017.
Connection to Career Technical Education (CTE)
ESSA both encouraged and allowed states to incorporate CTE into their ESSA state plans through an emphasis on a “well-rounded education” (which includes CTE programs and activities) and the opportunity to embed CTE and career readiness measures within state systems of K-12 accountability. The flexibility that comes with ESSA has allowed states to coordinate services among CTE, workforce development and higher education.
Resources on Understanding ESSA
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- Full text of ESSA
Intersections and Opportunities for CTE (February 2016)
- A brief summary of ESSA’s key provisions and an overview of opportunities for alignment with ESSA and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
Resources on ESSA Implementation
Mapping Career Readiness in ESSA Plans
Full Report from Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group (December 2017)
- Background on ESSA and an analysis of each state plan in terms of career readiness
Appendix from Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group (December 2017)
- A table outlining how each state addressed career readiness in its ESSA plan
Presentation Slides and Recording (January 2018)
- Materials from webinars exploring Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group’s analysis of ESSA state plans and trends across states
Career-Ready Indicator Profiles
These profiles explore how leading states are designing meaningful, career-focused indicators:
