Bonamici Statement on Every Student Succeeds Act Regulations

Final Regulations on School Accountability Offer More Flexibility to States

WASHINGTON, DC [11/28/16] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), a member of the House Education Committee, responded to the U.S. Department of Education’s final regulations implementing key provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The final regulations clarify the requirements of states to hold schools accountable for helping all students succeed.

“This final rule upholds the intent of the Every Student Succeeds Act to return a great deal of control to states and school districts and the flexibility to make decisions that will work for their communities,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “I commend the Department of Education for being responsive to the education community and incorporating feedback from numerous stakeholders as it finalized regulations for statewide accountability systems. And importantly, these regulations will advance the federal government’s longstanding commitment to promoting equity in education and reflect the civil rights legacy of the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

“I am pleased that states will have an additional year to implement features of their accountability systems, which is something I called for during the rule-making process,” Congresswoman Bonamici continued. “Giving states time to implement the law thoughtfully will be beneficial in the long run and allow states to use the best available data about their schools’ performance. The regulations also place greater focus on the wide array of resource inequities in schools, which will prompt schools to address disparities in access to advanced coursework, among other common inequities.

“Supporting America’s system of public education remains one of my top priorities. Access to a high-quality public education is a civil right, and one that I will fight to uphold during the next administration. Educators, families, and local and state school leaders are working hard to close achievement gaps and give every student a bright future. As states continue to develop accountability systems that raise achievement for all students—including students with disabilities, minority students, low-income students, and English learners—I will continue to work to make sure they have the stability they need to plan and design effective systems.”

After the U.S. Department of Education released draft rules, Bonamici provided recommendations to the Department to 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.

Bonamici served on the select panel of House and Senate members who crafted the final version of the bipartisan 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.

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