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Washington, DC– Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) voted to advance S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to improve our K-12 education system. 

Congressman Guthrie served as a member of the conference committee which produced this bill.   The Every Student Succeeds Act is a compromise between the House-passed Student Success Act and the Senate-passed Every Child Achieves Act, and takes major steps to reduce the federal government’s footprint in our nation’s classrooms and restore local control. 

“For too long Congress has sat idly by while the Department of Education has imposed its own agenda on our nation’s classrooms by granting waivers from current law and coercing states to adopt policies like Common Core.  It is time that we get Washington out of our classrooms and back in the hands of those who know our children best.”

Building on the Student Success Act passed by the House in July, S. 1177 ends the Secretary of Education’s ability to grant waivers from current law and prohibits the federal government from coercing states into adopting Common Core State Standards or any other specific academic standards.  In addition, it repeals the onerous “Adequate Yearly Process” federal accountability system and allows states to develop their own accountability systems and intervention models.  The agreement also eliminates and consolidates nearly 50 federal programs and provides districts more flexibility to invest in their priorities.

“Parents, teachers, and school leaders have consistently told me that current law governing our K-12 education system is failing our students.  I am pleased that the House and Senate have made it a priority to come together and reach an agreement to replace the failed policies of No Child Left Behind.  Our children deserve a quality education and this agreement is a step in the right direction,” said Congressman Guthrie. 

Congressman Guthrie is a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and was appointed by Speaker Paul Ryan to serve on the House-Senate conference committee to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.