Committee Approves Bipartisan Bills to Support Charter Schools, Enhance Education Research
WASHINGTON– The House Education and the Workforce Committee today approved two pieces of legislation that will improve the nation’s K-12 education system. The Success and Opportunity through Quality Charters Act (H.R. 10) and the Strengthening Education through Research Act (H.R. 4366) both passed the committee with bipartisan support.
“I am pleased the committee approved with bipartisan support two pieces of legislation that will help raise the bar in our nation’s schools,” Chairman John Kline (R-MN) said. “By advancing proposals to encourage the growth of high-performing charter schools and help school leaders access more useful education research, we have taken an important step forward in the fight to improve K-12 education in America. These bipartisan proposals highlight the progress we can make when we work together in good faith, and I hope to build upon today’s success as I continue to advocate for a full reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I thank my colleagues for their hard work on both proposals, and urge swift passage on the House floor.”
“These are two strong, bipartisan proposals to improve our nation’s education system,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee. “The Strengthening Education through Research Act strikes the proper balance between rigor and relevance, ensuring education research solves the real problems faced by students and those who work with them. And in reauthorizing the Charter School Program, H.R. 10 course corrects federal investments to ensure quality, accountability, and equity. But this is only part of the solution. More must be done to guarantee that all public charter schools are high-quality and equitably serve all students. Committee Democrats remain committed to reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to improve the quality and oversight of all schools—charter and noncharter—that receive Title I funds.”
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, said, “Helping people build better lives is a top priority for this committee. Whether through more flexible work schedules, stronger job training programs, or smarter student loan terms, advancing commonsense policies that will make life work for more Americans is a top priority. The bills approved today are part of this effort, and I hope they will receive the same robust support on the House floor as they did today in committee.”
"I firmly believe that in order to successfully prepare our students for the workforce, our nation’s educators must be able to identify and have access to successful and proven techniques,” said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). “I am proud to be the lead Democratic co-sponsor of the bipartisan Strengthening Education through Research Act? that will strengthen research, improve accountability, refocus the priority on equity in education for our most vulnerable student populations, and improve overall student success throughout our education system."
To learn more about the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act, click here. To learn more about the Strengthening Education through Research Act, click here. To access markup materials or view an archived webcast, click here.
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