The 2015 passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has again changed education for public schools and communities. Common Core is now optional and the role of Secretary of Education has been limited by no longer incentivizing states, as done under Common Core. This book analyzes the new direction today's schools must pursue for student learning and their success beyond high school. States and local educational agencies are once again empowered and will have more authority over curriculum and assessment. Common Sense Education includes samples from these states, ideas from several universities which are retooling their teacher education programs and focusing on teacher excellence, as well as schools recalibrating their programs for student learning. This book advocates for common sense education, uses a national survey to provide parent and teacher perspectives, and suggests a new paradigm for exciting twenty-first century high schools.

Ernest J. Zarra III is a lifelong educator and has authored fifteen books and numerous journal and Op-Ed articles. He has served as a district professional development leader, presented as keynote speaker for various educational organizations, and has served as assistant professor of teacher education at Lewis-Clark State College.

List of Tables
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Why Replace Common Core?
Chapter 2: The ESSA: The Direction of Twenty-First Century American Education
Chapter 3: The Right Direction for Today's Schools
Chapter 4: Twenty-First Century Teacher Excellence
Chapter 5: Twenty-First Century Teacher Preparation
Chapter 6: Twenty-First Century Schools
Chapter 7: Graduating Twenty-First Century Students
Endnotes
About the Author