Fattah Hails Educational Equity Provisions in Every Student Succeeds Act

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last week, Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) joined many of his colleagues in passing a bipartisan overhaul of No Child Left Behind. The new bill, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), was passed by the Senate yesterday and signed into law by President Obama today.

"Education is a civil right, and my goal for my entire career in public service has been to make sure that every student—no matter their race, their neighborhood, or background—receives the best possible education, is challenged to reach their fullest potential, and is given all the tools necessary to succeed in today's global economy," Congressman Fattah said. "The Every Student Succeeds Act was long overdue and I applaud the committee chairmen for their tireless efforts and negotiations to see this bill through. In my legislation, the Student Bill of Rights, I called for universal access to highly effective teachers, early childhood education, access to college and career preparation, and equitable instructional resources. I am extremely pleased that provisions to make significant progress in each of these areas are featured in the new law."

The Every Student Succeeds Act:

• Closes achievement gaps through more efficient assessments, transparent reporting, and improvement plans tailored to meet the needs of each student and school
• Sets the highest standard for all students, with state standards aligned for college and career readiness and reporting on access to higher level courses
• Offers targeted school support plans where any subgroup of students is struggling so that poverty will not be an excuse for not being able to best serve students
• Provides supplemental funding to promote safe, healthy, and well-rounded students through STEM education, mental health resources, arts and music programs, and community involvement
• Reduces the use of exclusionary discipline practices
• Authorizes a program to assist with implemental early childhood learning and reaching all students, including those most vulnerable students who would otherwise fall behind
• Ensures fiscal fairness so that students will have equal access to experienced and effective teachers and school leaders by reporting on per pupil expenditures
• Maintains federal authority to hold non-compliers accountable

Since first introducing the Student Bill of Rights in 2002 and the Fiscal Fairness Act in 2010, Congressman Fattah has reintroduced both bills in each successive legislative sessions of Congress.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

Related Links

http://www.fattah.house.gov