Senator Patty Murray (R-WA) visited students and administrators last week to discuss ESSA. Senator Murray called the next 12 months a “year of transition” while the Dept. of Education and the states define the standards for student success. Read more here.
In response to the Dept. of Education’s announcement of proposed ESSA accountability regulations, the Rep. John Kline and Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committee, threatened to block the rules under the Congressional Review Act. Read more here.
A Washington Examiner story explores the ongoing dispute between Sec. King and Chairman Alexander. According to the account, the Republicans believe “the [Dept. of Education] is trying to reassert federal control by exceeding its authority with a rule that would require state and local spending...
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI-13) wrote an article for Time Magazine on segregation in schools. In it, he voiced support for ESSA and its ability to provide schools with the resources they need to improve student performance. Read more here.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held an ESSA stakeholder hearing to discuss implementation of the law. Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) questioned Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers and Dr. Nora Gordon from the McCourt School of...
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) sent a letter to Education Secretary John King highlighting concerns that teachers may not have enough time to participate in the required planning and development programs within ESSA. Read more here.
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mark Warner (D-VA) penned an op-ed in Time Magazine celebrating National Teacher Appreciation Week. The piece highlights how teachers will have increased access to professional development programs in all subjects under ESSA. Read more here.
Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) along with seven other senators, urged the Dept. of Education to use the authority that it was given by Congress to fully enforce the “supplement, not supplant” provision in ESSA. Read more here.
Representatives John Kline (R-MN-2), chairman of the House education committee, and Bobby Scott (D-VA-3), ranking member, sent a letter to lawmakers in charge of K-12 spending that requests full funding for Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants when developing ESSA guidelines. Read more here.
Senator Lamar Alexander discussed ESSA and next steps for states in a forum for educators and policymakers in Nashville. He encouraged Tennessee to develop their own plan and fit it into the federal template, rather than wait for the Dept. of Education to come up...
