The Senate passed legislation Wednesday to reform the Bush-era “No Child Left Behind” law, clearing the legislation for the president’s signature.
The Every Student Succeeds Act is the most extensive update of public education policy in more than a decade, and came after extensive bipartisan collaboration. It lessens federal control over standardized testing and education reform at low-performing schools. It also provides new funding for pre-kindergarten programs and for low-income students.
It also attempts to neutralize Common Core State Standards initiative that many parents and teachers oppose by prohibiting the federal government from incentivizing or coercing states to adopt them. And, it repeals dozens of programs deemed either ineffective or duplicative and includes provisions to protect homeschoolers and charter schools and provides “flexibility grants” for local schools to decide how to spend money on programs.
It passed easily in an 85-12 vote.
“This forward-looking replacement for a broken law would open new opportunities for our kids, and put education back in the hands of those who understand their needs best, the parents, teachers, states, and school boards, ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said.
The House passed the bill with a large bipartisan majority least week, and Obama is expected to sign the legislation.
The bill lessens federal control over standardized testing and education reform at low-performing schools. It also provides new funding for pre-kindergarten programs and for low-income students.
