Rep. Takano Praises Signing of Every Student Succeeds Act
Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law.
“Today I join teachers, students, parents, and administrators in celebrating the end of No Child Left Behind and welcoming a new chapter in our federal education policy. The Every Student Succeeds Act will provide schools the support and flexibility they need to be successful, and provide students with an environment focused on learning instead of test taking.
“The lesson we learned as a country — and I learned as a former teacher — is that a rigid and punitive accountability system combined with heavy-handed federal intervention is not a recipe for students’ success. This law returns authority over education policy to states, school districts, and educators, who best understand their students’ needs.
“The achievement gaps I witnessed throughout my teaching career inspired me to enter politics. I am elated that we’ve taken a significant step in helping students in my district and across the country. The Every Student Succeeds Act is not a perfect law, but it is a solid bipartisan compromise and a clear improvement over the current system.
“For a Congress that has been defined by gridlock and inaction, today is proof we can work together on behalf of the American people.”