WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is calling passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act “an early present to West Virginia families.”
President Barack Obama signed the rewrite of the often criticized No Child Left Behind Act, which was first implemented under President George W. Bush, into law Thursday.
In general, the legislation transfers many educational decision-making powers from the federal government back to state and local governments and addresses issues such as accountability and testing requirements, distribution and requirements for grants, fiscal accountability requirements and the evaluation of teachers.
“I think the West Virginia education community is going to throw up their hands and say, ‘Finally, Washington’s off our backs. We can create and do the things we know are going to work better for our state,'” Capito said of the legislation on Thursday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate approved the measure 85-12 following overwhelming approval from the U.S. House, 359-64, last week.
The provisions in it are designed to the following, according to information from the White House:
– Hold all students to high academic standards that prepare them for success in college and careers.
– Ensure accountability by guaranteeing that when students fall behind, states redirect resources into what works to help them and their schools improve, with a particular focus on the very lowest-performing schools, high schools with high dropout rates, and schools with achievement gaps.
– Empower state and local decision-makers to develop their own strong systems for school improvement based upon evidence, rather than imposing cookie-cutter federal solutions like the No Child Left Behind Act did.
– Reduce the often onerous burden of testing on students and teachers, making sure that tests don’t crowd out teaching and learning, without sacrificing clear, annual information parents and educators need to make sure our children are learning.
– Provide more children access to high-quality preschool.
– Establish new resources for proven strategies that will spur reform and drive opportunity and better outcomes for America’s students.
Annual testing in reading and math will continue for 3rd through 8th grade students under the Every Student Succeeds Act. High school students, though, will be tested once before graduation.
“It moves the responsibility for and the flexibility back to the state school boards, parents, teachers,” said Capito. “It gets rid of No Child Left Behind and all the negativity that’s been associated with it.”
Capito’s amendments to the legislation will require state and local education agencies to include college enrollment information on state and local report cards, allows for funding to close technology gaps and offers additional support for community schools.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) also added several provisions to the bill including those specifically addressing substance abuse in the home, promoting volunteerism and community service and protecting children from predators.
“This bipartisan legislation reduces federal interference in local schools to ensure teachers, school leaders, parents, local districts and states play a greater role in preparing our children to compete and succeed in a 21st century, global economy,” Manchin said in a statement.
Most of the changes in the Every Student Succeeds Act will take effect in time for the 2016-2017 school year.