Common Core. When it comes to education, perhaps no two words are more controversial. What began as a state-led effort to raise student achievement, has now prompted an open revolt against federal intrusion into the nation’s schools. The administration’s controversial waiver scheme and Race to the Top program empowered the secretary of education to push on states a specific set of academic standar... Read more »
No Child Left Behind was based on good intentions, but it was also based on the flawed premise that Washington knows best what students need to excel in school. The law led to the greatest federal intrusion into K-12 classrooms and failed to provide students the quality education they need to succeed in life. Instead of working with Congress to replace the law, the Obama administration has been s... Read more »
Conservative reformers have had major successes, notably on welfare in 1996. But when a reform doesn’t turn out as hoped, they need to adapt. A case in point is No Child Left Behind, which the GOP Congress is now preparing to leave behind. This week the House plans to debate the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which lapsed in 2007 and needs revision. A bipartisan compromise has eme... Read more »
Last week, a House-Senate conference committee reached agreement on a proposal to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, bringing Congress one step closer to replacing No Child Left Behind. As news reports highlight, the framework approved by the joint committee reduces the federal footprint in the nation’s classrooms and provides parents and state and school leaders with the cert... Read more »
The House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 (H.R. 511), a bipartisan measure that will prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from wrongfully interfering in Native American affairs. Since 2004, the NLRB has used a subjective test to determine when and where to assert its jurisdiction over Indian tribes, raising concerns througho... Read more »
Today, the White House is welcoming leaders from the more than 550 federally recognized Native American tribes for its 2015 Tribal Nations Conference. The event is intended to “strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Indian Country,” an important goal policymakers on both sides of the aisle share. That’s why House Republicans are championing a bipartisan measure to protect tribal... Read more »
Every year since 1994, presidents have issued proclamations designating November “National Native American Heritage Month,” a time to celebrate Native Americans for their rich culture and customs. It’s also a time to reaffirm our commitment to providing Native Americans the quality education they need to succeed. For more than 100 years, the federal government has been responsible for supporting s... Read more »
This week marks National Apprenticeship Week, a time for students, employees, educators, job creators, and policymakers to reflect on the critical role education and on-the-job experience play in helping Americans succeed in an increasingly competitive and evolving workforce. As conversations take place across the country about the importance of apprenticeships, many will likely also discuss the c... Read more »
In the five years since it was enacted, ObamaCare has led to higher costs, fewer full-time jobs, and less access to trusted health care providers. That’s why House Republicans have continued working to dismantle a flawed law that is wreaking havoc on working families and small businesses. Democrats are quick to criticize these efforts, but even the president himself has given his stamp of approval... Read more »
Members of Congress still have a lot to say about a Department of Labor proposal that will make it harder for low- and middle-class families to save for retirement. While policymakers have already spoken out on the regulatory proposal, it’s clear that concerns persist – even among those in the president’s own party. In fact, as the Wall Street Journal notes, “bipartisan opposition is mounting beca... Read more »
