On February 11, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup of the Student Success Act (H.R. 5)—a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The bill’s Republican sponsors touted it as a necessary restructuring to the current law that “reduces the federal footprint and places control back in the hands of parents and the state and local education leaders.” It seeks to consolidate or eliminate 65 existing education programs, while significantly restructuring current federal policies governing K-12 academic standards, accountability and the use of federal funds. After considering amendments and debate on the bill during the day-long hearing, the committee passed the measure on a party-line vote of 21-16.
Chairman John Kline (R-MN) said that the legislation “will help provide all children access to an effective education. The bill is a commonsense response to a status quo that has failed students for far too long.” The bill is nearly identical to the version the was passed by the House in 2013, and reasserts key Republican priorities including the repeal of the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) provision in the state accountability system, eliminating federally mandated interventions for poor-performing schools and removing the “highly qualified teacher” (HQT) requirement. The bill also seeks to create “portability” in Title I funding that supports low-income students, allowing those funds to follow students to the public school of their choice. The overarching theme of the legislation is to provide states and school districts with maximum flexibility in using funds, while limiting federal requirements. Additionally, the bill includes language that would encourage states to include information on student achievement in career and technical proficiencies on the state’s annual report card, and would allow school districts to utilize funds to better integrate academics with CTE and work-based learning opportunities.
More than a dozen amendments offered by the committee’s Democratic members were defeated. Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) expressed his opposition to Title I portability and the elimination of “maintenance of effort” requirements, which drives state and local investments in education. Even Secretary of Education Arne Duncan weighed in on the bill saying, “This Republican bill not only cements cuts in education funding for our children, but it also does nothing to guarantee that states continue to invest in education.” Though the timeline for further consideration of the bill has not officially been announced, the Student Success Act could see a vote on the House floor later this month.
Comments