A strong educational system helps to ensure a bright future for our children and nation. Ed believes we must invest in our public education system so every child has the opportunity to live the American dream. The Every Child Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a step in the right direction. States will now set their own standards as well as create their own plans for schools. ESSA also contains measures to reduce high-stakes testing while maintaining high standards and accountability, decreases the use of disciplinary practices that remove kids from the classroom, and provides better access to high-quality preschools. Ed supports robust, flexible funding and grant programs enabling schools to provide invaluable learning opportunities.