Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) & Quantum 10
Many of the elements of the Quantum 10 are well known around the globe. Countries around the world are familiar with the practices, theories, and even some of the frameworks contained within the Q10. The United States’ 44th President, Barack Obama signed The Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA) in December of 2015, which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015).
The ESSA holds states and schools in the U.S. accountable to create equal access and opportunity for all students while giving them more funding flexibility and an opportunity to be innovative with creating sustainable systems for equity (Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015).
The ESSA has included a few provisions that directly coincide with the Q10. The provisions are below and include and benefit all students, including students of color, low-income students, English learners, students with disabilities, and those who are homeless or in foster care (Darling-Hammond, Cook-Harvey, Mercer, Roc, & Lam, 2016).
The four major provisions are:
- Higher-order skills for all students
- Multiple Measures to Assess School Performance and Progress
- Resource Equity
- Equity Strategies and Evidence-based interventions
Eight out of 10 of the Quantum10 have been written into United States’ Education Policy under the ESSA. In addition to the 8 elements that are endorsed by the ESSA, the 2 that have yet to be endorsed (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Growth Mindset) are often paired or interconnected with one or more of the elements of the Q10 and are vital components designed to equip educators with the tools necessary to serve all students.