Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Virginia Department of Education assists schools and school divisions in administering programs authorized by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – the most recent reauthorization of which is also known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
ESEA requires states to set annual objectives for increasing student achievement with the goal of ensuring that all children have an opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Schools, school divisions and states that meet these objectives make what the law refers to as “Adequate Yearly Progress.”
- ESEA requires annual testing in grades 3-8 and at least once in high school to measure student progress in reading and mathematics. The law also requires states to test all students in science at least once in elementary school, once in middle school and once in high school.
- ESEA requires schools, school divisions and states to meet annual objectives for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for student performance on statewide tests in reading and mathematics.
- ESEA requires the identification of states, schools and school divisions making and not making AYP.
- ESEA requires all students to be proficient in reading and mathematics by 2013-2014.
Each of the ten titles or chapters of the law pertain to a different set of programs where federal funding is authorized for improving public education and achieving the objectives of the law.
Need Additional Information: Navigate to VDOE website and open link Federal Programs. Under the title sections of ESEA, access resources for program administration, find related topics and access VDOE office and staff contact information.
