The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed in 1965, emphasizing equal access to education for all children. ESEA was reauthorized in 2002 as the No Child left Behind Act (NCLB). In 2001, the US Department of Education offered state waivers from some NCLB provisions, and 43 states, including Delaware, received approval. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) passed in December, 2015, is that latest reauthorization of that law.

 

ESSA implementation will begin during the 2017-18 school year. The 2016-17 school year is our opportunity to consult with stakeholders, develop our plan, and submit it to the U.S. Department of Education for their approval.

 

Although ESSA was signed into law last December, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) is still waiting for detailed information that will be included in federal regulation and guidance.

 

In the meantime, according to DDOE, staff have been learning the content of the new law and working to understand the changes in policy and requirements. These efforts will help DDOE to see Delaware’s strength and readiness for ESSA and to identify areas of opportunity and discussion.

 

The early work of DDOE has set the stage for them to plan for effective, focused, and meaningful stakeholder consultation, which they will use to draft Delaware's State Plan.

 

For more information about the Delaware Department of Education's work on ESSA, please click here.