Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (R-Tn.-04) on Friday issued the following statement in support of H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, which was approved by the United States House of Representatives. This bill would roll back much of ‘No Child Left Behind’, ending federal progress goals and letting states set their own targets. It also prohibits the Department of Education from coercing states into adopting common core academic standards.
“For too many years, our children and their schools have been languishing under a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to education that has reduced our global competitiveness and failed our students. This bill will replace No Child Left Behind and its onerous Adequate Yearly Progress requirements, and instead give states the flexibility to design education policies that will allow students to gain the skills and knowledge needed to compete in a 21st century economy.
“This bill also eliminates the Department of Education's role in promoting the adoption of any national standards, assessments or curricula. Instead of being coerced into adopting de facto national standards like Common Core, this bill will return responsibility back to those who know our kids best: parents, teachers, administrators and state and local education agencies.”