The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) sanctions most federal elementary and secondary education programs. The most current iteration of ESEA is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, and which was passed by Congress in December 2015. ESEA has been due for reauthorization since 2007.

NASSP has worked tirelessly to draft recommendations on how to improve the law for the nation’s middle level and high school principals. Through meetings with legislators and their staff, organized Hill visits with NASSP members, and action alerts through the Principal’s Legislative Action Center, NASSP has provided key members on the House and Senate education committees with principals’ priorities in the new ESEA.

Now that the House and Senate have both voted to reauthorize ESEA by passing the Every Student Succeeds Act (also known as ESSA; view a detailed description of its provisions here), NASSP will continue working with states and the U.S. Department of Education throughout the state plan implementation process.

Legislative or Policy Priorities

NASSP Resources