Changes to education law.

• Author: Bragg, Lucia
• Position: TRENDS - Brief article

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos issued a revised template in March for state education plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to ensure greater flexibility for state and local education leaders. There are three new requirements in the revised template, but the main goal of the revision was to require state consolidated plans to include only those descriptions and information that the secretary has determined are "absolutely necessary," as indicated by ESSA.

"The updated state template will ensure states are able to better serve students with the freedom and flexibility they deserve, and which Congress requires," DeVos says. "My philosophy is simple: I trust parents, I trust teachers, and I trust local school leaders to do what's right for the children they serve. ESSA was passed with broad bipartisan support to move...