In 2015, Congress adopted the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. This update replaces the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and restores the proper balance between the role of states and the federal government in accountability for the success of all children.
ESSA requires that states develop plans that address standards, assessments, school and district accountability, and special help for struggling schools. The 2016-17 school year will be a transition period, with full implementation of Iowa’s state plan under ESSA in the 2017-18 school year.