Cramer: House Overhauls No Child Left Behind

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report for S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It replaces the nation's current education law commonly called "No Child Left Behind"(NCLB) and overhauls it with an education initiative designed to empower parents and to restore local control of education. One important aspect of the legislation is specific language prohibiting any federal bureaucrat, including the Secretary of Education, from coercing states into adopting Common Core.

"A quality education ensures our children are equipped to succeed and become active and productive members of our society. Unfortunately, our nation's current education system is failing too many students and sentencing them to a lifetime of mediocrity and failure," said Cramer.

He cited statistics showing approximately one out of every five students drops out of high school and many students who graduate lack the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a postsecondary education and compete in the workforce. "Only 38 percent of high school seniors can read at grade level, and 26 percent are proficient in math," said Cramer. "ESSA returns control of education to where it belongs, in the hands of parents and local school districts. Our goal should be consolidating and eliminating unnecessary or duplicate federal programs. Local flexibility and local control allows parents and school districts to address local challenges and more effectively use education resources."

Cramer praised the language in the bill allowing states to set education standards and preventing the federal government from forcing Common Core on local communities. "States, not the federal government, should determine their own education standards. ESSA allows states to become "Common Core Free Zones' without being punished by the federal government."

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