President Barack Obama today signed the Every Student Succeeds Act --- a rewrite of No Child Left Behind.
The new law, referred to as ESSA, passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.
It replaces the wildly unpopular law that's been referred to as No Child Left Untested. Educators are so enthusiastic about this rewrite, the heads of two Illinois teachers unions flew to Washington to witness its signing.
Cinda Klickna, president of Illinois Education Association, stayed home, but says teachers are relieved that ESSA allows schools to be judged by a broader measures.
“Even though there will still be tests, they won’t be used in the punitive way they’ve been used for the past decade," Klickna said.
ESSA also gives states more flexibility in setting those standards.
