What is a key difference between No Child Left Behind and the Every Student Succeeds Act?

What is a key difference between No Child Left Behind and the Every Student Succeeds Act?

• A. ESSA moved more decision-making to states while maintaining some federal accountability.
• B. NCLB eliminated standardized testing.
• C. ESSA reduced funding for schools.
• D. ESSA gave more control to the federal government.

Answer: (A)

Shifts in governance: more state control with ongoing federal accountability. Under No Child Left Behind, the federal government set strict testing and accountability rules for all states, with limited room for states to tailor standards or interventions. Every Student Succeeds Act changes that by giving states latitude to design their own standards, choose how to measure accountability, and decide on interventions, while still keeping federal oversight to ensure accountability, especially for disadvantaged students. This combination—state-level decision-making paired with maintained federal accountability—best captures the key difference. The other options misstate the situation: testing isn’t eliminated, and ESSA does not increase federal control or reduce funding in a way that defines the core distinction.

Shifts in governance: more state control with ongoing federal accountability. Under No Child Left Behind, the federal government set strict testing and accountability rules for all states, with limited room for states to tailor standards or interventions. Every Student Succeeds Act changes that by giving states latitude to design their own standards, choose how to measure accountability, and decide on interventions, while still keeping federal oversight to ensure accountability, especially for disadvantaged students. This combination—state-level decision-making paired with maintained federal accountability—best captures the key difference. The other options misstate the situation: testing isn’t eliminated, and ESSA does not increase federal control or reduce funding in a way that defines the core distinction.