Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

February 6, 2019

Database: California's lowest-performing schools in 2018-19

Under a federal education law that requires states to identify the lowest performing schools, districts with these schools will get some federal aid and are required to figure out how to make the schools better.

Daniel J. Willis

February 6, 2019

California quietly publishes list of 781 lowest-performing schools

Convinced that stigmatizing “bad schools” and dictating improvements didn't work, state officials are counting on district-led solutions to low achievement.

John Fensterwald

January 9, 2019

School districts will be required to verify they’re fixing California’s lowest-performing schools

The Every Student Succeeds Act requires states to identify and improve student achievement in the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools. Districts with those schools will explain how in a new section of their Local Control and Accountability Plans.

John Fensterwald

July 12, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos signs off: California's plan finally satisfies federal law

Approval for the state’s plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act comes one day after State Board of Education makes final fixes.

John Fensterwald

July 11, 2018

California officials confident they’ve cut deal in dispute over federal education law

State Board also votes to continue exploring a way to measure a school’s impact on student learning. Advocates say a “growth model" will be more precise than the method the state uses now.

Mikhail Zinshteyn And John Fensterwald

July 3, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appears ready to sign California’s education plan

Top U.S. Department of Education official says he will recommend approval if the State Board of Education votes for a revised plan at its meeting in Sacramento

David Washburn

June 12, 2018

Federal officials again question California's plan for improving lowest performing schools

California is one of handful of states awaiting federal approval of its education plan

John Fensterwald

April 13, 2018

California's plan for Every Student Succeeds Act heads to Betsy DeVos for approval

The state board is satisfied with compromises but will seek one waiver involving English learners.

John Fensterwald

April 8, 2018

To compromise or not: State education board to vote on California’s amended plan for meeting federal law

The state could still seek waivers from changes that board members don’t like — but only after a plan is submitted.

John Fensterwald

March 29, 2018

Districts must do more to reduce low-income schools' share of inexperienced, ineffective teachers under new federal law

Effectiveness has nothing to do with teachers' impact or performance, as California defines it under the new federal law.

John Fensterwald

March 14, 2018

State Board postpones vote on revising California's education plan to meet federal requirements

Big question for board members: Would the deal undermine the state's strategy for reforms?

John Fensterwald

March 12, 2018

California should stay the course with its education plan

The State Board of Education should approve the revised Every Student Succeeds Act state plan without delay.

Linda Darling-Hammond

March 7, 2018

California closes in on compromise for complying with federal education law

State Board of Education to vote next week on significant changes to meet the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

John Fensterwald

March 7, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos praises California governor on local control of schools

The state is currently negotiating with federal officials over its plan to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Louis Freedberg

January 30, 2018

Federal, state visions for improving schools collide in California

The Every Student Succeeds Act is a battleground for the latest dispute between Sacramento and Washington.

John Fensterwald