Press Releases

The House Education and the Workforce Committee, chaired by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), today approved the Student Success Act (H.R. 5). Introduced by Chairman Kline and Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Chairman Todd Rokita (R-IN), this responsible legislation will repair the nation’s broken K-12 education system by reducing the federal footprint, restoring local control, and empowering parents and education leaders to hold schools accountable. The committee approved the bill by a vote of 21 to 16.

"The Student Success Act helps provide American families the education system they deserve, not the one Washington wants,” said Chairman Kline. “I want to thank all my colleagues for engaging in a robust debate and offering their ideas to improve education. We have a lot of work ahead, and we will continue to move forward in a manner that is open, transparent, and fair. America’s parents, teachers, and students have waited long enough for a new law that helps every child in every school receive an excellent education. This important bill will move us closer toward that goal, and I look forward to continuing the debate in the weeks ahead.”

“The status quo in our nation’s K-12 education system is hurting students,”said Rep. Rokita, “and the committee has taken a bold step in a new direction. Today we signaled to moms, dads, teachers, administrators, and state officials that we trust them to hold schools accountable for delivering a quality education to every child. I am honored to have led this effort with Chairman Kline, and I look forward to advancing these important reforms through the House and Senate and enacting them into law. It is time to place control of our nation’s classrooms back in the hands of the parents and educators who know their children best.”

As passed by the committee, the Student Success Act:

• Replaces the current national accountability scheme based on high stakes tests with state-led accountability systems, returning responsibility for measuring student and school performance to states and school districts.
                      
• Ensures parents continue to have the information they need to hold local schools accountable.
                    
• Repeals more than 65 ineffective, duplicative, and unnecessary programs and replaces the maze of programs with a Local Academic Flexible Grant, helping schools better support students.
                          
• Protects state and local autonomy over decisions in the classroom by preventing the Secretary of Education from coercing states into adopting Common Core or any other common standards or assessments, as well as reining in the secretary’s regulatory authority.
                                                
• Empowers parents with more school choice options by continuing support for magnet schools and expanding charter school opportunities, as well as allowing Title I funds to follow low-income children to the traditional public or charter school of the parent’s choice.
                   
• Strengthens existing efforts to improve student performance among targeted student populations, including English learners and homeless children.

To read opening statements, review amendments, or watch an archived webcast of today’s markup, visit www.republicans-edlabor.house.gov/markups.

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