Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Contact: Alex Charles
North Carolina Addendum Approval Letter
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.
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.
Current ESSA Plan:
NC ESSA State Plan Amendment Final (June 3, 2025)
Previous ESSA Plan:
NC ESSA State Plan Amendment Final (May 7, 2024)
NC ESSA State Plan Amendment Final (March 29, 2023)
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)
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 |
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Mid-to-Late June
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Mid-to-Late July
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| July and August SBE Meetings |
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| September 7, 2017 SBE Meeting |
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| September 18, 2017 |
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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)
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.
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.
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)