Bonamici Makes Recommendations on Implementation of New Education Law

Bonamici Makes Recommendations on Implementation of New Education Law

WASHINGTON, DC [08/04/16] — Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) has provided recommendations to the Department of Education as it finalizes regulations to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Bonamici—a member of the House Education Committee—called on the Department to take the following steps to improve its rulemaking: clarify the role of arts education in states’ plans to offer well-rounded education; provide sufficient time to transition to the new law’s accountability requirements; and support meaningful school improvement activities. In May, the Department released draft rules for accountability systems and plans to be designed by states under the new education law. The Department is currently in the process of finalizing the rules.

“Supporting America’s system of public education remains one of my top priorities,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Congress took an essential step to strengthen our schools when it passed the Every Student Succeeds Act. After more than a decade under the failed policies of No Child Left Behind, the new law returns a great deal of control to states and local communities while upholding the federal government’s longstanding commitment to promoting equity in education. The Department of Education’s regulations must strike this balance, and I have offered recommendations that will help achieve the intent of the law. I’ll be following the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act closely to make sure the new education law will help states and school districts put students on a path to success regardless of what path they take in life.”

Copies of the letters are available here and here.

Bonamici served on the select panel of House and Senate members who crafted the final version of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Bonamici successfully included provisions to help states and school districts eliminate redundant or unnecessary tests and to support interdisciplinary educational programs that integrate arts into STEM courses.