Indiana's replacement for No Child Left Behind approved by DOE

Indiana is among six states whose plans to replace No Child Left Behind were approved by the U.S. Department of Education Friday. 

Signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act replaced 2002's No Child Left Behind Act and allows states to create specialized plans for growth. 

Plans in Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana and New Hampshire were also approved Friday, according to a news release from the DOE. 

Indiana's ESSA plan would close the gap in achievement in English and languages arts and math by 50 percent by 2023 across all student subgroups, according to a news release. It would also use several forms of evaluation to determine college and career readiness for high school students, including performance in advanced courses and earning dual credit or a certification. 

The plan will also measure elementary student attendance and growth in student attendance, according to the release. 

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Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, said in a written statement that the approval marked "a great day for Indiana." 

"Our ESSA plan reflects the input and perspective of many stakeholders in communities across our state," she said. "From the beginning, we set out to build a plan that responded to the needs of Hoosier students. From our clear accountability system to our innovative, locally-driven approach to school improvement, our ESSA plan was designed to support student success."

Friday's announcement makes 35 states across the country with approved plans under the ESSA, according to the DOE. 

“I encourage states to use their plans as a starting point, rather than a finish line, to improve outcomes for all students," U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a written statement.  

Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.