Every Student Succeeds Act

Overview

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the nation’s K-12 education law prioritizing equal access to education, was reauthorized by Congress at the end of 2015 as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

While the bill was designed for K-12 education, lawmakers recognized the importance of early learning to ensure children are prepared for kindergarten and beyond, and incorporated it across the law for the first time. ESSA established the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program, the first time the law dedicated a specific funding stream to children under age five.

Current Funding Level: Under Title 1, ESSA is funded at $18.4 billion for FY2025. Under Title 2, ESSA is funded at $2.19 billion for FY2025.