Press Releases

At a hearing on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce questioned Acting Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. about how the Department of Education plans to implement the law in a manner consistent with the letter and intent of the law. Noting reforms that do away with federally-mandated “high-stakes” testing, Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) asked Dr. King how the department will respect the authority of states to set assessment policies they determine are best for students and families.

We know assessments can play a positive role in identifying areas that need improvement, both in a school and a child’s personal education. However, the high-stakes testing regime created under No Child Left Behind and the department’s waiver scheme left no room for state and local leaders to make those improvements and cultivate environments conducive to learning. …

The Every Student Succeeds Act very clearly gives power back to the states when it comes to holding schools accountable for assessment participation and the right of parents to opt their children out of those assessments. These provisions will allow states and school districts to better identify and support underperforming schools and provide more transparency and options for parents and their students.