Author: Jenna West
Major: Literary Studies
Approved: Spring 2019
Status: Completed
No Child Left Behind, NCLB, brought a variety of issues to the school system, such as unrealistic expectations and a strong importance on the testing system which led to pressure and stress in the school system. Due to the issues of NCLB, the Every Student Succeeds Act, ESSA, sought to overcome these issues; however, it is questionable if it truly succeeds in this goal. This paper used a survey to examine teachers’ experiences under these two acts and their opinions on both acts to discover if the issues of NCLB have been overcome by ESSA. Unfortunately, the findings indicate the same issues NCLB brought are still experienced under ESSA. Teachers responded there is still too much of a focus on the testing system which then leads to negative experiences in the school system. However, teachers did indicate a few positive influences of ESSA, mainly an increase in flexibility which many indicated was not possible under NCLB. While the teachers still feel pressure in the school system, many believed that while ESSA is not perfect, it is certainly a step in the right direction.
