What is ESSA and How Does It Help Your Child?
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal education law passed in 2015. Under this law, schools receive funding through the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program to give every student a fair chance to succeed — no matter where they live or what school they attend.
Goal 1: A Well-Rounded Education for Every Student
We want every child to have access to a variety of learning experiences, not just core subjects. Here's what that looks like in our schools:
- Math Specialist – Teresa Norris works with students at both Westmar and Mount Savage schools to provide extra math support.
- Chinese Immersion Program – Students have the opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese as part of their school day.
- Destiny Follett Library – Students have access to a digital library system to support reading and research.
- Ag Labs – Mobile agricultural science labs that visit schools, typically in the fall. These hands-on labs are partially funded by the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and bring real-world science to your child's classroom.
- School Counselors – Our counselors are supported with professional memberships through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), helping them stay up to date on the best ways to support your child.
Goal 2: Safe and Healthy Schools
Every child deserves to feel safe and supported at school. Here are some of the programs we use to make that happen:
- Project Wisdom – A character-building program that helps reduce bullying and harassment by teaching students how to treat one another with respect. Students even created their own "Inspirational Announcements" that are shared over the school intercom. Since the program began, our schools have seen an 18.6% drop in reporting of bullying and harassment incidents and a 10% reduction in student disciplinary referrals.
- Quaver Music – A music program that helps improve how students relate to one another and reduces overall anxiety in the school setting.
- SNAP Database – A tool used by school health nurses to track student immunization records and follow up with families when vaccinations may be missing or out of date.
- Online Mental Health Specialists – Through our Safe & Healthy Schools funding, students can connect with licensed mental health professionals online at a time that works for them — making it easier to get help when they need it.
- Social Worker Support – Our school social workers hold professional memberships with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), ensuring they have access to the latest training and resources to best support your family.
Goal 3: Better Use of Technology
We believe technology, used the right way, can open doors for every learner. Here's how we're investing in that:
- Digital Camps for Teachers – Coordinated by Jason Huber, our Technology Infusion Specialist, these professional development sessions help teachers discover and use the best online tools and resources in their classrooms — so your child benefits from up-to-date, engaging instruction.
Organization Partners
