when will essa take effect
And it gives new leeway to states in calling the shots. That's a big change from the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which ESSA replaced and updated. The Every Student Succeeds Act takes full effect in the 2017-18 school year. Below are key elements of the law. States still have to submit accountability plans to the Education Department. These new ESSA plans will start in the 2017-18 school year.