President Obama Signs Bill Replacing No Child Left Behind

Employee Relations, Jobs, Skills and Training

This week, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act into law, a bipartisan bill to replace No Child Left Behind, that passed both houses of Congress with wide majorities from both parties.  The new law seeks to help states and local school districts reduce unnecessary standardized tests, get rid of one-size-fits-all mandates on schools, ensure that the nation's education system will prepare every child to graduate from high school ready for college and a career, and provide more children access to high-quality state preschool programs.  A joint statement released by Senate HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) said, "Today we are unleashing a new era of innovation and excellence in student achievement—one that recognizes that the path to higher standards, better teaching and real accountability is classroom by classroom, community by community, and state by state—and not through Washington, D.C."  Next year, Congress is expected to take up reauthorizing the Higher Education Act and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, the two remaining overdue education bills Congress needs to address.