The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) - A Primer

Oct 15, 2026

Overview of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and how the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) amended and reauthorized it. Details ESEA’s federal support structure, especially Title I-A, which links grant funds to state and district educational accountability. Explains requirements for content standards and aligned assessments, along with long-term and interim goals, weighted indicators, and annual meaningful differentiation. Summarizes the eight ESEA titles, major provisions, and includes appropriation and program-transition tables from FY2016–FY2026.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages49

Reading Time2 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Title I: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

Administration (Section 1004)

Part A: Grants to Local Educational Agencies

Standards, Assessments, and Accountability Requirements (Section 1111)

Teacher Requirements

School Improvement (Section 1003)

Direct Student Services (Section 1003A)

Part B: Grants for State Assessment and Enhanced Assessment Instruments

Part C: Education of Migratory Children

Part D: Prevention and Intervention Programs for Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk Children and Youth

Part E: Flexibility for Equitable Per-Pupil Funding

Part F: General Provisions

Title II: Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers, Principals, and Other School Leaders

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): A Primer Updated July 9, 2026 Congressional Research Service [https://crsreports.congress.gov](https://crsreports.congress.gov)[ ](https://crsreports.congress.gov)R45977 The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): A Primer The primary source of federal aid for elementary and secondary education is the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—particularly its Title I-A program, which authorizes federal aid for the education of disadvantaged students. The ESEA was initially enacted in 1965 (P.L. 89-10), and was most recently comprehensively amended and reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA; P.L. 114-95) . R45977 July 9, 2026 Rebecca R. Skinner Specialist in Education Policy Under Title I-A, the ESEA as amended by the ESSA continues to require states and public school systems to focus on educational accountability as a condition for the receipt of grant funds. Public school systems and individual public schools are held accountable for monitoring and improving achievement outcomes for students and closing achievement gaps, sustaining a focus that was initiated by amendments to the ESEA made by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB; P.L. 107-110), but modified under the ESSA. While states were given more latitude to develop their accountability systems under the ESSA provisions, as a condition of receiving Title I-A funds each state must continue to have content and academic achievement standards and aligned assessments in reading/language arts (RLA), mathematics, and science for specific grade levels. States must now have an accountability system that incorporates (1) long-term and interim performance goals for specified measures; (2) weighted indicators based, in part, on these goals; and (3) an annual system for meaningful differentiation that is used to identify schools that need additional support to improve student achievement. Beyond Title I-A, other ESEA programs provide grants and contracts for a variety of educational purposes. ESEA programs and general provisions are included in eight titles, which collectively received appropriations of $28.9 billion in FY2026 . The ESEA’s titles are as follows: • Title I: Programs for disadvantaged students, student assessment, migratory students, and neglected and delinquent students. • Title II: Programs for teachers, principals, and school leaders; literacy; and American history and civics education. • Title III: Programs to support English language acquisition for English learners. • Title IV: Programs to support a well-rounded education, safe and healthy students, and technology; after school instruction and care; charter schools; magnet schools; family engagement in education; and various national activities. • Title V: Programs to support rural education. • Title VI: Programs for Indian education, Native Hawaiian education, and Alaska Native education. • Title VII: Impact Aid programs. • Title VIII: General provisions. This report provides an overview of major provisions of the ESEA. It also includes a table showing annual appropriations for ESEA programs for FY2017 through FY2026, as well as a table showing the transition in authorized programs and related appropriations from FY2016, when NCLB provisions were still in effect, to FY2017, when ESSA provisions took effect. Finally, a table detailing authorizations of appropriations under current law is also included. Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Title I: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged............................................. 2 Administration (Section 1004) ...................................................................................

FAQs

What is the ESEA’s primary role in federal support for K-12 education?

The ESEA is described as the primary source of federal aid for elementary and secondary education, particularly through Title I-A. Title I-A authorizes federal aid for educating disadvantaged students.

How does Title I-A under the ESSA change accountability requirements?

Under Title I-A, states and public school systems must focus on educational accountability as a condition for receiving grant funds. States must maintain content and academic achievement standards and aligned assessments, and implement an accountability system with long-term/interim goals, weighted indicators, and annual meaningful differentiation.

What are the major ESEA titles beyond Title I-A?

The document lists eight ESEA titles in total. It describes programs for teachers and school leaders (Title II), English learners (Title III), well-rounded education and safety (Title IV), rural education (Title V), and additional specific programs including Indian education (Title VI), Impact Aid (Title VII), and general provisions (Title VIII).

Oct 15, 2026

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