“It gives states the flexibility to create accountability systems that work for their students, ending the federal government’s punitive role in education”, Curbelo said on the law.
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The new bill, known as the Every Student Succeeds Act, will replace No Child Left Behind, the last iteration of ESEA that expired in 2007. “We finally reached that deal,”, President Obama explained Thursday morning. “In today’s economy, a high-quality education is a prerequisite for success”, he said, adding that the nation’s competitive advantage depends on students not just learning the basics, but picking up skills like critical thinking. Senator and presidential candidate Ted Cruz – who did not cast a Senate vote on the bill – bashed the new law for letting the federal government get too involved in education once again.
Earlier this year, Michigan students took the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, a new assessment to measure their grasp of core subjects.
Garrison believes her students will succeed more with this new law and is excited to see them excel. Standardized tests will not be the only factor considered when evaluating a school.
Teachers say the No Child Left Behind Act was one-size-fits-all, but administrators said that didn’t work.
“This is the reset we’ve been fighting for in federal education policy”. The administration offered grants through its Race to the Top program for states that adopted strong academic standards for students.
Parents also will be able to see how per-pupil funding breaks down by state, district and school.
Obama also praised outgoing U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan-who was present for the signing ceremony-for his part in laying the foundation for the new law.
The Every Student Succeeds Act takes the power from Washington to states and local school districts, for the first time since 2002.
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For the past eight years, federal lawmakers have been debating No Child Left Behind – a measure that led to a reliance on standardized testing as a way to ensure that students were getting a good education.
