This guide aims to help parents understand the flexibility provided to States and school districts in the "Every Student Succeeds Act" (ESSA), which amended the "Elementary and Secondary Education Act," a landmark Federal education law. Parents are the most important advocates for their children. Because States and school districts have significant flexibility in how they meet the requirements of the law, parents have an opportunity to influence how they use that flexibility to best help their child. The purpose of this document is to empower parents with information that will help advocate for better education for their child to help make the right choices in education.