Elementary and Secondary Education Act - Definition and Overview

President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)in 1965. The ESEA is the first and largest comprehensive federal education law that provides substantial monetary funds for K-12 education. As mandated in the act, the funds are authorized for educator's professional development, instructional materials, resources to support educational programs, and parental involvement promotion. The act was originally authorized through 1970, however the government has reauthorized the ESEA every five years since its inactment. As a result of the reauthorizations, the act has undergone numerous name changes and presidencies. However, the basic premise of the law still stands today; it provides targeted resources to help ensure that disadvantaged students have access to a quality public education.