Rep. Bonamici Outlines Education Priorities in Speech to National School Boards Association
Washington, D.C. – Speaking at the National School Boards Association’s Advocacy Institute, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici thanked board members for their service, emphasized the strength and potential of the country’s public education system, and outlined some of her priorities for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
“Today’s students are studying more advanced courses and developing new career and college-ready skills, and the national dropout rate continues to fall,” Congresswoman Bonamici said. “But we still have a lot of work to do. Poverty and a lack of equitable funding contribute to instability, and too many students are slipping through the cracks. Public education works, but there are areas that need to be improved. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides an opportunity to address these concerns.”
Speaking before hundreds of school board members from across the county, Congresswoman Bonamici emphasized the importance of equity and bridging the achievement gap.
“Graduation rates have increased nationally, but wide disparities still persist along racial and socioeconomic lines,” Congresswoman Bonamici said. “And although we’re trying to meet the needs of disadvantaged students, we’ve also seen governments slash education spending. We need to invest in education and fully fund Title I and other ESEA programs to give all students the opportunity to thrive in public schools and go to college or gain career-ready skills.”
Congresswoman Bonamici also discussed her bipartisan legislation to eliminate unnecessary and redundant tests, which many teachers and parents say are wasting valuable classroom resources. The Start Making Assessments Reliable and Timely (SMART) Act was introduced two weeks ago in the House and Senate.
“The number of standardized tests and the stakes attached to them are creating stress in our nation’s classrooms. My bill will help states and school districts eliminate tests that are poor quality or redundant,” Congresswoman Bonamici said. “The legislation will help districts plan more coherent assessment systems that take into consideration a broader picture of the tests students are taking. We have a responsibility to keep an eye on student growth, but we should remember that one test on one day can never capture all that students know and all the ways teachers support their students."