Polis Passes Two Amendments to ESEA Reauthorization Bill

Press Release

Today, Congressman Polis passed two bipartisan amendments to H.R. 5, a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In conjunction with Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN), Congressman Polis passed an amendment to ensure that computer science is included as part of the core curriculum in public schools. Congressman Polis also worked with Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) to pass an amendment to allow public charter schools flexibility in how to use their grant dollars and to ensure that charter schools engage in outreach to low income and other underserved populations.

"In order to provide students with the skills they need to compete in an increasingly global economy, we must stop thinking about computer science as an elective and begin to treat it as part of our core curriculum," Rep. Polis said. " I am proud that Representative Brooks and I were able to pass an amendment to clarify that federal funds can be used to provide teachers with training and professional development so that schools are better able to introduce our nation's students to this emerging and exciting field."

This amendment on computer science clarifies and encourages federal funds to be used to support training and professional computer science educators. This new flexibility comes at no additional cost to taxpayers since it simply provides access to funds already set aside for professional development through ESEA. The second amendment introduced by Congressman Polis would allow charter schools that receive federal funds through the Charter Schools Program to use their grant dollars for vital startup costs, such as professional development, teacher training, instructional materials, and minor facilities costs.

"The Charter School Program is a crucial lifeline for growing and replicating high quality public charter schools and helping to meet the demand for the one million students and their families stuck on charter school wait-lists," said Rep. Polis. "I am proud that Representative Petri and I were able to pass an amendment to increase flexibility for charter schools so that they can start off strong, and encourage innovation in the charter school sector so that public charter schools can continue to serve more students and families."

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