Obama signs Every Student Succeeds Act

The Senate cleared an overhaul of the controversial No Child Left Behind program in a bipartisan vote on Wednesday, sending the measure to President Barack Obama, who will sign it into law, the White House said. Students will be tested twice from grades three through eight, and then once in high school, in reading and math. Science tests will be given three times during third grade through twelfth. But the act gives states the freedom to choose how to evaluate teachers and how to hold schools accountable for students’ performance on these tests.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) also added several provisions to the bill including those specifically addressing substance abuse in the home, promoting volunteerism and community service and protecting children from predators.

“The biggest impact is that, in the past, a lot of times things we had to do were because, quote, the federal government said we had to do it”, Fabrizio said.

There were joined on stage by their Democratic colleagues on their committees, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington – and in the House, Education Committee Chairman John Kline, R-Minn., and ranking member Bobby Scott of Virginia.

“This will be a process involving multiple stakeholders, and require more than MDE’s input”, Whiston said in a statement.

In Iowa, the legislation received praise from education officials both in Des Moines and the Cedar Valley. “I mean, we’re very unique here being next to a military base”. “That is critical for our most needy schools”.

“Many of the policies and requirements of ESSA are already in place in the Washoe County School District”, said Deputy Superintendent Kristen McNeill. There are great opportunities here.

· Ensure states set high standards so that children graduate high school ready for college and career.

One way the law attempts to do so is by allowing each state to set their own educational goals – under NCLB, those goals were dictated by the federal government, a direct jab at the Common Core State Standards, which the federal government pushed on states through financial incentives in 2010.

Cato Institute education analyst Neal McCluskey writes the measure – which has disappointed many conservatives – does at least eliminate NCLB’s “uber-intrusive” onerous state test to measure students’ “adequate yearly progress”. Testing will be one factor considered, but graduation rates and education atmosphere could also be factored in. High standards, accountability, closing the achievement gap, making sure every child is learning and not just some.