There’s a New Alphabet in Town: ESSA and Its Implications for Students,Schools,and School Nurses

Abstract

The 2015 passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides state education agencies with more local control over educational planning, requires development of state accountability plans, and provides opportunities for advocacy surrounding school nursing-sensitive indicators of student success. Federal Title I, II, and IV funds are available for state and local education agency utilization in meeting educational needs of impoverished students and for development of high-quality instructional and support personnel. As Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, school nurses can utilize ESSA Title funding to positively impact chronic absenteeism, school climate, and school nurse staffing. ESSA can be a resource for funding school health services and professional education. This article will assist school nurses in better understanding ESSA and how funding is allocated to states and local education agencies.

Keywords

whole child chronic absenteeism funding legislation advocacy ESSA

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C, § 18031 (2010).

ASCD & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014a). Whole school, whole community, whole child (WSCC). Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/programs/learning-and-health/wscc-model.aspx

ASCD & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014b). Whole school, whole community, whole child: A collaborative approach to health and learning. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/publications/wholechild/wscc-a-collaborative-approach.pdf

Attendance Works. (2017). Federal policy plays a key role in creating conditions that reduce chronic absence. Retrieved from http://www.attendanceworks.org/policy-advocacy/federal/

Every Student Succeeds Act Pub. L. No. 114-95 § 114 Stat. (2015).

Galemore

(2017). State-level collaborations among school nurse organizations. NASN School Nurse, 32(4), 226-234.

Green

(2016) Big challenges, even bigger opportunities for school nurses in today’s healthcare arena. Oncology Nursing News. Retrieved from http://www.oncnursingnews.com/web-exclusives/big-challenges-even-bigger-opportunities-for-nurses-in-todays-healthcare-arena

Healthy Schools Campaign & Alliance for a Healthier Generation. (2017). State ESSA plans to support student health and wellness: A framework for action. Retrieved from https://healthyschoolscampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ESSA-State-Framework.pdf

Largent

(2016). NASN advocacy efforts: A year in review. NASN School Nurse, 31(4), 205-209. doi:10.1177/1942602X16650460

10.

NASN. (2016a). ESSA. Retrieved from https://www.nasn.org/advocacy/advocacy-federal

11.

NASN. (2016b). Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice. NASN School Nurse, 31(1). Retrieved from https://www.nasn.org/nasn-resources/professional-topics/framework

12.

NASN. (2017). Whole school, whole community, whole child: Implications for 21st century school nurses (Position statement). Retrieved from https://schoolnursenet.nasn.org/blogs/nasn-profile/2017/07/28/whole-school-whole-community-whole-child

13.

New Jersey Department of Education. (2017). School district Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) guide: Understanding the federal funds school districts receive under ESEA as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/education/ESSA/guidance/njdoe/DistrictGuide.pdf

14.

United Stated Department of Education. (2017a). Revised state template for the consolidated state plan: The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Retrieved from https://www.ed.gov/essa?src=rn

15.

United States Department of Education. (2017b). State Plan Fact Sheet. (Retrieved from https://www.2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplan17/stateplanfactsheet.docx