WHAT IS ESSA? Key points to remember in understanding all of the jargon and acronyms related to federal law:
• The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is the same bill as “No Child Left Behind” and the “Every Student Succeeds Act.” ESEA was originally signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is the last reauthorized iteration of ESEA. Receiving bipartisan support, NCLB was signed into law in 2002 by President George W. Bush.
• The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the title of the latest ESEA reauthorization by Congress, expected to be signed into law by President Obama in the next few days.
• The “Well-Rounded Education” provision (previously known as “Core Academic Subjects”) is a section (Sec. 8002) within ESSA that lists courses, activities, and programming in subjects deemed critical when providing students a broad and enriched educational experience. The provision includes “music” and “arts,” which articulates the importance of music as a part of every child’s education. This provides an unprecedented step forward for music education, as “Well-Rounded” is mentioned in a variety of other significant provisions throughout the bill.