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Committee Leaders Voice Support for K-12 Education Reform Bills

House Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans are rallying in support of new K-12 education legislation introduced last week by committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN). The Student Success Act (H.R. 3989) and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act (H.R. 3990) represent the next chapter in House Republican efforts to reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

The Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act will encourage greater state and local control, support effective teachers in the classroom, and enhance flexibility. Read why committee members believe these proposals represent the best way forward for students and schools:

Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI)
"I have heard from many schools in my district, particularly smaller or more rural schools, that they need more flexibility to utilize federal funds in the most effective way possible.  These bills will empower those schools to do just that, and I am happy to lend my support."

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)
"Over the past few decades, the federal government has created mandates that limit our students by not providing room for academic achievement. In order to reduce red tape and foster learning excellence, federal bureaucrats must return the responsibility for student achievement to states and locally elected school boards. It is my hope that with the passage of these two final education reform bills, educators will continue to be innovative and students will thrive in an environment that is accountable and flexible."

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
“These reform measures provide states and schools the clarity and flexibility that is so desperately needed to improve student success, and I commend Chairman Kline for his leadership.”

Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN)
“We must put education first in order to ensure our young people are gaining the knowledge and tools they need to be successful in the future. The Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act offer true education reform by giving states more flexibility in order to meet the unique needs of each child and providing accountability. The bills also aim to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely because funding is used to strengthen programs that are already successfully working in school districts around the country. These bills offer long-term solutions in our education system that will help pave the path of our children’s future.”

Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA)
“For too long our nation has struggled under the weight of an ineffective one-size-fits-all approach to education. The Student Success Act restores maximum flexibility at the local level, while maintaining high expectations and ensuring that schools, teachers, and parents have the tools and resources to help our kids get the best education possible, prepare for postsecondary education, and have the knowledge and skills to succeed in careers. I am very pleased that this bill has moved forward with the needs of our local school jurisdictions and communities first, which is paramount in our efforts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.”

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
“It is critical that we give states and local school districts the flexibility they need to create the sort of innovative education programs required to bring both our schools and students into the 21st century. For this reason, I am proud to cosponsor these important pieces of legislation that will help to ensure our children are on a path to success in the classroom.”

Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD)
“Rural schools like the ones my kids attend face distinct challenges in complying with one-size-fits-all mandates, stretching limited resources, and attracting good teachers in the classrooms. I’m supporting these proposals because they will provide enhanced flexibility in the use of federal funds and offer states and school districts the freedom to design accountability and school improvement systems that address the unique needs of our communities. These proposals help put more control back in the hands of the parents, teachers, and school administrators who know the needs of our kids best.”

Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)
“It is evident that our education system is broken. As Congress continues to reauthorize No Child Left Behind, we must reform the current system to provide student-centric policies and promote teacher flexibility within our local schools. The education reform bills recently introduced by Chairman Kline will move our system forward by allowing states to determine the educational needs of their students and releasing teachers from outdated mandates. Providing our teachers, parents, and our states with long-term solutions will allow them to run innovative and effective schools.”

Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV)
"I am pleased to join Chairman Kline as a sponsor of these remaining two bills reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Not only does this legislation address the unintended consequences of No Child Left Behind, but it also provides for increased teacher accountability, flexibility in funding, and allowing education policy decisions to be made closer to home by state and local officials."

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)
“America’s youth have been failed by a federally micro-managed education system that lacks the flexibility and ingenuity we need to help students realize their boundless potential. The Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act work toward reforming our system through commonsense solutions and standards that are set at the state and local level, while giving school districts more power to direct federal money where it is actually needed.”

For more information on the Student Success Act, or to read a bill summary or fact sheet, visit www.republicans-edlabor.house.gov. Additional resources on the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act, including a bill summary and fact sheet, are also available on the website.

 

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