Overview

In December 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law.  ESSA updated and reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.  Under the Johnson administration, ESEA established a federal commitment to equal opportunity for all students. 

The update of the legislation builds on the efforts of educators, communities, parents and students across the country.  ESSA includes provisions to:

1. Advance equity by upholding critical protections for Americans disadvantaged and high-need students
2. Require all students be taught to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed in college and careers
3. Ensure that vital information is provided to all stakeholders through annual statewide assessments that measure students’ progress toward those high standards
4. Grow and support local innovations including evidence-based and place-based interventions developed locally
5. Sustain and expand historic investments in increasing access to high-quality preschool
6. Maintain an expectation that there will be accountability and action to affect positive change in our lowest-performing schools where there are groups of students not making progress and graduation rates are low over an extended period.

Title I, Part A

The purpose of Tennessee’s federally funded Title I, Part A Program is to support local school districts in improving teaching and learning for students in high-poverty schools so that students meet the state’s challenging content and performance standards.  In Tipton County, schools that are served with Title I funds operate as school wide.  School wide programs use their funds to improve the entire program of the school so that all students are impacted.  Schools in Tipton County focus their funds on improving math and reading/language arts as well as other core academic areas.

For information about your student’s school, please see the Tennessee Department of Education Report Card for school and district data.

Title II, Part A

Title II, Part A is an ESSA program which places emphasis on teacher and leader quality.  These funds are focused on preparing, training and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals.  Tipton County utilizes these funds to place an emphasis on teacher quality as an integral factor in improving student achievement by providing professional learning opportunities for teachers.

Title II, Part A funds are used to:

• Increase the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals and other school leaders;
• Increase the number of teachers, principals and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools; and
• Provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals and other school leaders.

Title III, Part A

The purpose of Title III, Part A is to improve the education of English Learners (ELs) by helping them learn English and meet the challenges of the rigorous state academic standards.  An EL can be any student who lists a language other than English on the home language survey and qualifies for services based on the W-APT or WIDA screener.  The purposes of Title III, Part A are:

• To ensure that ELs, including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic attainment in English
• To assist all ELs, including immigrant children and youth, to achieve at high levels in academic subjects to meet the Tennessee Academic Standards
• To assist in establishing, implementing and sustaining effective language instruction educational programs designed to assist in teaching ELs
• To assist teachers (including pre-K teachers), principals, other school leaders and districts to develop and enhance their capacity to provide effective instructional programs for ELs
• To promote parental, family and community participation in language instruction education programs for the parents, families and communities of ELs.

Title IV, Part A

The purpose of Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, is to provide funds to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of state educational agencies, districts and local communities to:

• Provide all students with access to well-rounded education
• Improve school conditions for student learning (safe and healthy students)
• Improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students (effective use of technology).