OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Student Success Act

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 25, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: K-12 Education

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 5, also known
as the Student Success Act. Having spent 24 years as a classroom
teacher, I am especially concerned about the title I funding mechanism
in this legislation. We have seen time and time again that block grants
often redirect funding away from intended populations and are a prelude
to further cuts.

I also oppose the Republican bill's portability provision, which
betrays the original intent of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act. ESEA is meant to promote equitable opportunity and education for
all and to help raise the academic achievement of low-income children.
This legislation will do the opposite.

Finally, I object to the utter lack of Federal accountability in H.R.
5. While I oppose the current test-driven, high-stakes accountability
system, I want the right accountability system, not no accountability
system.

Mr. Chairman, this legislation goes too far. It cuts too deep and
takes too many steps backward. I oppose H.R. 5. I call on my colleagues
to do the same.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward