The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a U.S. federal education law passed in 2015 to replace parts of the No Child Left Behind Act. ESSA gives states more flexibility in setting academic standards, testing policies, and school improvement plans while still requiring accountability for student performance. The law supports equal educational opportunities for all students, including disadvantaged and special-needs learners, and encourages schools to improve graduation rates, learning outcomes, and teacher effectiveness.