Skip to main content
NC DPI logo NC DPI

Topical Navigation

  • Home
  • Educators
    Educators
    • Educator Preparation
    • Educator Recognition Programs
    • Educator's Licensure
    • Home Base
    • National Board Certification
    • Professional Development
    • Recruitment & Support
    • Specialized Instructional Support
    • TeachNC
    • Troops to Teachers
    • Work for NC Schools
  • Students & Families
    Students & Families
    • Alternative Choices
    • Enhanced Opportunities
    • Parent Advisory Commission
    • Parent's Corner
    • Student Support
  • Districts & Schools
    Districts & Schools
    • AIM Conference
    • Charter Schools
    • Classroom Resources
    • District Operations
    • Districts & Schools Support
    • Federal Program Monitoring
    • Funding Opportunities
    • High School Graduation Requirements
    • Operation Polaris
    • Recognitions
    • Testing and School Accountability
  • Data & Reports
    Data & Reports
    • Common Education Data Analysis and Reporting System (CEDARS)
    • Data Reporting and Program Monitoring
    • Demographics and Finances
    • Dropout and Discipline Data
    • North Carolina School Finances
    • School Accountability, Reporting, and Educator Performance
    • School Report Cards
  • News
    News
    • Calendar
    • COVID-19 Response & Resources
    • District Visits & Voices
    • K-12 Education Legislation and Reports
    • Press Releases
    • Public Notices
    • Superintendent's Quarterly, Reports and Legal Documents
  • About DPI
    About DPI
    • Contact Us
    • Education Directory
    • Human Resources Division
    • Intern with DPI
    • Internal Audit & Advisory Services
    • State Board of Education
    • State Superintendent of Public Instruction
    • Technology Services
  • NC SUPERINTENDENT
  • STATE BOARD
  • NC.GOV
NC DPI »   Districts & Schools »   Federal Program Monitoring »   Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Contact: Dr. LaTricia Townsend

 

NC ESEA Waiver Public Comment

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is seeking public comment on a proposed waiver that will enable additional fiscal flexibility for FY 19 ESEA associated funds. The waiver is being made available to the public for review and comment for 30 days. Access to the draft version of the waiver is available using the link ESEA Fiscal Waiver.

Interested persons may submit their written comments by September 15, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EST using the link below.

Proposed Waiver to offer additional fiscal flexibility for funds received under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)

 

Every Student Succeeds Act Approved in December 2015 
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the latest reauthorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and was approved by the U.S. Congress and signed into law in December 2015. ESSA reauthorizes the nation’s national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students and replaces the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

NC Plan Approved by U.S. Department of Education 

The U.S. Department has approved North Carolina’s plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The plan calls for the state to support individualized instruction and learning for both students and educators and continues to explore and promote emerging initiatives for personalized learning. ESSA provides the state with this opportunity via the commitment in the plan to continuous innovation for students and educators.

The state’s plan includes these key elements:

  • Provides a concise statement of the innovation the state expects for students, including using adaptive environments, personalized learning, and empowered educators.
  • Establishes 10-year goals for student performance using end-of-grade and end-of-course exams and goals for closing achievement gaps
  • Continues the School Performance Grades model, in which schools earn a A-F grades based on proficiency measures and student-growth targets.

NC State Plan for the ESSA (June 16, 2020)

 

NC State Plan for the ESSA Approval Letter (June 5, 2018) 

NCDPI Submits ESSA Plan Revision for Approval (May 23, 2018)

The N.C. Department of Public Instruction today resubmitted the state's application for funding under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The revised version reflects additional changes requested by the U.S. Department of Education after the department submitted its first revision in February.

Federal reviewers requested a few adjustments in the state's plan for measuring high school performance and a more detailed examination of how the teaching force is distributed among schools across the state to better ensure equity for all students.

Revised State Plan for the ESSA with Tracked Changes (submitted on May 23, 2018)

NCDPI Submits Revised State Plan under the ESSA(February 9, 2018)
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) submitted a revised State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) with tracked changes to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) on February 9, 2018. The revised State Plan responds to the USED’s response letter issued on December 13, 2017.

Read the response letter from the U.S. Department of Education for the specific items in the state’s plan requiring additional information or revision.

Also included with the response are peer-review feedback on the technical, educational and overall quality of the state plan:

  • NC Final Peer Review Notes
     
  • Peer Review Notes on how the plan addressed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program

 

Revised State Plan for the ESSA with Tracked Changes (submitted on February 9, 2018)

Text of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015

The ESSA Theory of Action. Text version download below.
Theory of Action

Timeline and Stakeholders

General Draft Timeline
On December 1, 2016, the North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) voted unanimously to submit the Consolidated State Plan by the September 18, 2017, submission date. Therefore, the timeline below reflects the extended timeline for development of the plan.

 

2017  
January–June 2017
  • Conduct additional simulations of accountability model and finalize certain decisions
  • Continue receiving feedback and input on draft plan
  • Post new versions of draft plan when available. New template issued by the USED in March. New draft plan posted May 1 using new template.
  • Present to General Assembly Education Committee(s) and meet with legislators and staff
  • Monthly updates to the SBE

Mid-to-Late June

 

  • Post draft plan for 30-day public comment period

Mid-to-Late July

 

  • Review public comments and make appropriate changes to plan
  • Submit draft plan to Governor’s office for 30-day review period
July and August SBE Meetings
  • Discuss draft state plan with SBE
  • Incorporate details in plan that result from actions of the NC General Assembly
September 7, 2017    SBE Meeting
  • SBE approves the NC ESSA Plan
September 18, 2017
  • Submit state plan to the U.S. Department of Education

Letter from Governor Cooper to the SBE Chairman and State Superintendent (August 18, 2017)

Letter from SBE Chairman Bill Cobey to Governor Cooper (August 23, 2017)

Letter from Secretary DeVos on ESSA State Plans (March 13, 2017) 

Letter from Secretary DeVos on ESSA State Plans (February 10, 2017)

External Stakeholders

Alternate Assessment Participation

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Requests a Waiver to 34 C.F.R §200.6(c)(2)

Notice is hereby given that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) will submit a request for waiver of section 34 C.F.R §200.6(c)(2) as it requires State Education Agencies to adhere to a 1.0 percent cap for the total number of students assessed Statewide in a subject area using an alternate assessment. Specifically, the state anticipates that it will exceed the cap under paragraph (c)(2) with respect to any subject for which assessments are administered under §200.2(a)(1) in any school year, and is requesting, pursuant to 34 C.F.R §200.6(c)(4), that the Secretary waive the cap for the relevant subject for one year.

Click to view the North Carolina 1.0 Percent Alternate Assessment Participation Waiver.

Any individual or organization may submit written comments on the proposed waiver pursuant to 34 C.F.R. §200.6(c)(4) through January 7, 2019.

USED Resources

Non-Regulatory Guidance:

  • Homeless Student Guidance (Updated March 2017)
  • Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
  • ESSA Dear Colleague Letter on 2017-2018 Transition (January 13, 2017)
  • ESSA Transition FAQs (January 18, 2017)
  • ESSA Early Learning Guidance (January 17, 2017)
  • ESSA Fiscal Changes & Equitable Services Guidance (November 21, 2016)
  • ESSA Title IV, Part A Guidance – Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (October 21, 2016)
  • Non-Regulatory Guidance: Title II, Part A October 13, 2016
  • Non-Regulatory Guidance: English Learners and Title III Program October 5, 2016
  • ESSA Schoolwide Guidance (September 29, 2016)
  • ESSA Dear Colleague Letter on Tribal Consultation (September 26, 2016)
  • Evidence Guidance (September 16, 2016)
  • ESSA Dear Colleague Letter (January 28, 2016)
  • ESSA Webinar Powerpoint (December 22, 2015)
  • Dear Colleague Letter on the Transition to ESSA (December 18, 2015)
  • Dear Colleague Letter on the New ESSA Law (December 10, 2015)

Districts & Schools

  • AIM Conference
  • Charter Schools
  • Classroom Resources
  • District Operations
  • Districts & Schools Support
  • Federal Program Monitoring
    • 21st Century Community Learning Centers
    • Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan
    • Cross-Program Monitoring
    • Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools (EANS)
    • Equitable Services for Private Schools
    • Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
    • Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER)
    • Extended Learning and Integrated Student Supports (ELISS) Competitive Grant Program
    • Federal Program Contacts by Staff Member
    • Federal Program Data Collection
    • Foster Care Education
    • Homeless Program Monitoring
    • ICARES
    • Migrant Education
    • Monitoring Neglected and Delinquent Students
    • Rural Education Achievement Program
    • School Improvement
    • Student Support and Academic Enrichment
    • Title I Part A
    • Title I Resources
    • Title IIA
    • Title III
  • Funding Opportunities
  • High School Graduation Requirements
  • Operation Polaris
  • Recognitions
  • Testing and School Accountability

Share this page:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

How can we make this page better for you?

Back to top

Contact Us

Physical Address:
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
301 N. Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-2825
 
Mailing Address:
6301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-6301 

Phone: 984-236-2100

Work for Us

Work for NC Schools

Job Opportunities at DPI

For State Employees

Login to DPI Inside

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • News (RSS)
  • Education Directory
  • Translation Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Open Budget
NC DPI
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/federal-program-monitoring/every-student-succeeds-act-essa