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Scalise Hails House-Passed Education Bill A Conservative Victory For Louisiana

December 2, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement upon House passage of the Conference Report to Accompany S. 1177, the Student Success Act:
"The Student Success Act represents the largest reduction of federal control over education in 25 years," Rep. Scalise said. “This legislation replaces ’No Child Left Behind’ with reforms that allow states and parents to have more control over their children's education, while also getting the federal government out of mandated standards and curriculum like Common Core, so the Obama Administration can no longer use threats or coercion to force states like Louisiana to adopt Washington-knows-best school mandates.
“The bill we passed today also downsizes Washington's footprint by eliminating 49 federal programs and replacing them with a block grant, so states like Louisiana can decide how best to address the educational needs of our children. Crucially, this bill reauthorizes and strengthens the Charter School Program, which has played a significant role in helping Louisiana and other states provide thousands of students and their families with better educational options.
“While there is still more work to be done, the reforms in this bill are major, positive steps forward in getting Washington bureaucrats out of state and local education decisions. I applaud Chairman Kline for championing this important legislation."
Groups supporting the Student Success Act include:
  • AASA: The School Superintendents Association
  • Agudath Israel of America
  • Alliance for Education Excellence
  • American Association of School Librarians
  • American College Testing (ACT)
  • American Enterprise Institute – scholarly endorsement
  • American Federation of School Administrators
  • American Federation of Teachers
  • Association of Christian Schools International
  • Business Roundtable
  • Chiefs for Change
  • Committee on Catholic Education
  • Council for American Private Education
  • Council of Chief State School Officers
  • Louisiana Department of Education
  • Magnet Schools of America
  • National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
  • National Association for Charter School Authorizers
  • National Association of Elementary School Principals
  • National Association of Federally Impacted Schools
  • National Association of State Boards of Education
  • National Catholic Educational Association
  • National Conference of State Legislatures
  • National Governors Association
  • National PTA
  • National School Boards Association
  • Orthodox Union Advocacy Center
  • Partnership for 21st Century Learning
  • STEM Education Coalition
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Wall Street Journal – editorial endorsement
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Issues:Education