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ESSA & Education Updates - March 2026

What’s the Latest in the world of ESSA? Here are some actionable updates for district leaders and school principals.

1 | ESSA Funding Planning Reminder

As districts move into spring planning cycles, leaders should begin reviewing ESSA fund allocations for the upcoming fiscal year.

What you can do now:

  • Evaluate how Title I, II, III, and IV funds are currently being used.

  • Align spending plans with district needs assessments.

  • Identify opportunities for professional learning, instructional supports, and intervention programs.

2 | Title I Schoolwide Planning Updates

Many state departments of education are encouraging districts to revisit schoolwide plans to ensure they reflect current student performance data and intervention needs.

What you can do now:

  • Conduct a mid-year review of your schoolwide plan.

  • Ensure strategies address current academic gaps in literacy and mathematics.

  • Confirm that family engagement strategies are active and documented.

3 | Federal Accountability Monitoring Is Increasing

The U.S. Department of Education continues to review state ESSA implementation, with particular focus on how districts identify and support schools needing improvement.

What you can do now:

  • Review your school improvement plans to ensure they clearly identify evidence-based interventions.

  • Confirm that student group data (economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, English learners, and racial/ethnic groups) is accurately tracked and reported.

  • Ensure documentation shows how interventions align with ESSA evidence tiers.

4 | Accountability for English Learners

States are refining EL progress indicators, especially around ACCESS/ELPA21 growth expectations.

What you can do now:

  • Check whether your EL subgroup is on track to meet state growth targets.

  • Provide targeted PD for content teachers on scaffolding and language integration.

  • Ensure EL data is included in schoolwide planning conversations, not isolated to ESL teams.

Need Support?

Need help implementing these winter updates or more? Schedule a strategy call with The Above and Beyond Group to align your programs for optimal success under ESSA. Contact us!