Bill Returns Control of Education to States, Includes Fischer’s Local Governance Amendment
WASHINGTON – This afternoon, the U.S. Senate passed a bill with significant reforms to education, known as S. 1177 – The Every Child Achieves Act. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) offered an amendment, which was included in final passage of the bill. Senator Fischer released the following statement after the bill’s passage:
“Today, the Senate is passing important legislation that will put education decisions back in the hands of Nebraska families and local communities. It will end the Common Core mandate by letting states determine their academic standards without any interference from Washington.
“With the Every Child Achieves Act, we are replacing the ‘one-size-fits-all’ bureaucracy with real reforms. We are returning control to parents and our communities so that they can determine the best policies to ensure future generations will have the skills they need to succeed.”
This afternoon, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to provide greater control over education policies to states. For years, policies resulting from the No Child Left Behind law have caused over-testing and forced educators to “teach to the test” rather than provide students with the knowledge and tools they need. By ending the federal test-based accountability system, the Every Child Achieves Act would give states the ability to determine how to use federally required tests for accountability purposes.
Included in the Every Child Achieves Act is Senator Fischer’s local governance amendment, which passed the Senate last week. This bipartisan amendment, which was supported by Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), ensures that local school districts are not coerced into adopting misguided education requirements and prevents federal intrusion into how local schools are governed. It also ensures that local stakeholders have a stronger voice in both the regulatory and guidance processes.
The Every Child Achieves Act has been endorsed by The Nebraska Association of School Boards, the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, the Nebraska Association of School Administrators, the Nebraska Department of Education, the Nebraska State Education Association, and the Greater Nebraska Schools Association.
The following Nebraska organizations released quotes supporting Senator Fischer and her vote to pass the Every Child Achieves Act:
Jon Habben, Executive Director, Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association:
“The Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association (NRCSA) supports the efforts to reauthorize ESEA through the Every Child Achieves Act. The willingness to address the many areas of significant concern, particularly those regarding rural school districts and their students, is appreciated. We trust that as the process continues forward, the efforts to reduce federal oversight in lieu of greater state authority and local decision-making will be center stage. Thanks to every senator that asked for and considered input from rural associations and districts, both state and national. We particularly applaud Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer's Office for doing so.”
Michael Apple, President of the Nebraska Association of School Administrators:
“As President of the Nebraska Association of School Administrators I would like to express my gratitude to your office for your tireless work in seeking the passage of ESEA reauthorization, The Every Child Achieves Act in the Senate. I sincerely hope the entire Nebraska Congressional Delegation will work for final passage of ESEA reauthorization to replace the broken No Child Left Behind Law that we are currently held hostage to as public educators. When every single state needs to apply for a waiver from the US Department of Education to avoid punishment under No Child Left Behind then the law is broken, please make this session the session that updates ESEA. We appreciate everything that you do to support public education in Nebraska and the U.S., keep up the good work!”
Rachel Wise, President of the Nebraska State Board of Education:
“The State Board of Education recognizes the important need to reauthorize ESEA and to provide states with greater flexibility than previously provided under No Child Left Behind. We are appreciative of the leadership provided by Senator Fischer in supporting S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act.”
Matthew Blomstedt, Nebraska Commissioner of Education:
“I am pleased to see that the United States Senate has taken action to enact S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act, so that Nebraska can use a more sophisticated accountability system and tailor interventions to address unique local needs of our Nebraska schools so that we can serve every student, every day. I am appreciative of the work by Senator Fischer in making this happen.”
Molly H. O'Holleran, Nebraska State Board of Education, District 7:
“The Every Child Achieves Act will empower our nation’s students by maintaining the Elementary and Secondary Education Act's core commitment to accountability while also supporting state and local leadership and innovation. The bipartisan work of the Senate has strengthened this important law by focusing on expanding high-quality developmentally appropriate early learning opportunities, investing in our educators and school leaders, and continuing sensible accountability protections to ensure schools are closing achievement gaps and increasing student achievement at all levels.
“The No Child Left Behind Act is seriously outdated. We Nebraskans and leaders across the nation encourage the Senate-House conference committee to work in a similar bipartisan way to complete needed action on the bill by the end of 2015. We are hopeful this critical reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act will build on our nation’s educational strengths and address areas of needed improvement.”
Roger Breed, Executive Director, Greater Nebraska Schools Association:
“The Greater Nebraska Schools Association comprised of twenty-four school districts enrolling two-thirds of Nebraska public school students applauds passage of the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015. The Every Child Achieves Act replaces the No Child Left Behind Act and at the same time reduces the federal role in education by asserting local control over schools and districts, requiring common sense state-based accountability, and allowing support rather than sanctions for underperforming schools and districts.”
Jon Anderjaska, Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools Board of Education:
“As a school board member from a rural district in western Nebraska, I am very pleased that the bill passed by the Senate and the amendment introduced by Senator Fischer pulls back on federal control and supports local control of schools. Senator Fischer’s experience as a school board member and state legislator has served her well in representing the educational interests of Nebraska children. Her leadership on this issue will allow us to work with local and state officials in developing systems that work best for the students of our district.”
Lanny Boswell, Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education:
“This gives Nebraska the flexibility to create an accountability system that works for Nebraska students. I deeply appreciate Senator Fischer's leadership in this bipartisan effort and her continued support of local governance of our public schools.”
John Spatz, Executive Director, Nebraska Association of School Boards:
“The bill passed by the Senate will allow schools to get out from under some of the unworkable criteria set up by No Child Left Behind. We no longer will need to spend time asking the federal government for permission to get waivers to do what is in the best interests of our children. We will now be able to set up accountability systems that meet the needs of students and communities in 2015 and beyond.”
John Witzel, Nebraska State Board of Education, District 4:
“Very grateful for the leadership Senator Fischer has provided in moving ESEA Reauthorization forward--extremely important for Nebraska and the nation. Also the current bipartisan measure, the Every Child Achieves Act, allows Nebraska much greater autonomy and independence in implementing critical state accountability systems for our 245 school districts.”
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