Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Education Committee, commented on the importance of ESSA, stating, “Let me be clear, ESSA matters. Getting ESSA right matters.” He continued, arguing that “the choices you’re making—how to use the law’s flexibilities while respecting equity requirements—those...
Senate Education Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) discussed the opportunities ESSA brings for charter schools. According to Alexander, the bill included “improvements to ensure that those federal funds are used as effectively as possible to increase the number of high-quality charter schools.”
In an interview with Chalkbeat, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) discussed ESSA’s accountability standards. Bennet advised stakeholders to “make sure their state is a state that leads all other states in terms of the rigor and expectations we have for our kids.” Bennet also commented that...
Nineteen House and Senate Democrats sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos asking for a “full explanation of how requirements for stakeholder voices will be met under a new ESSA template for state-submitted plans.” The letter also encouraged states to submit plans...
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, questioning what the department will do after the removal of accountability regulations. The two members were “concerned about the potential chaos that will result” after the repeal of the ESSA regulations. Murray...
The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to overturn accountability regulations under ESSA. The measure was introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and co-sponsored by nine other senators including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). In a public statement, Alexander argued the rollback was “not a trivial matter” and “goes to the...
In an opinion piece on AL.com, Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL) discussed ESSA as an “example of how Washington should work.” He explained Congress needs to work with the Dept. of Education to “ensure the law is working” and “the burden is being lifted off our local public schools.” Byrne pledged that his...
Senate Education Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) authored an opinion piece on his efforts to roll back regulations under ESSA. Sen. Alexander argued that the removal of regulations is “not a trivial matter” but an effort to “restore to states, classroom teachers and parents decisions about what to do about their children...
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski delivered her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature and highlighted the importance of ESSA. Murkowski explained how the new law incorporates state legislator input, providing “the opportunity to be involved” and the “opportunity to bring the people that you represent to the table, to help meet...
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) discussed ESSA implementation with voters at a town hall event. When asked about her commitment to public education, McSally said she is “committed to the appropriate federal role in public education,” and explained that the “House will vote this week...
