Miller Statement on 10th Anniversary of No Child Left Behind Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement today marking the tenth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and warning that a recent turn by House Republicans to abandon bipartisanship in rewriting the law, without learning the lessons of the last decade or achieving consensus on reform, will fail the nation’s students.
“Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. This watershed law reaffirmed the nation’s promise that all children must have equal access to a quality education no matter their background. It moved our education system forward, but it is now in desperate need of a rewrite. And a successful reform of NCLB requires bipartisanship – the same kind of bipartisanship that made reform possible ten years ago.
We have learned a lot since the law’s enactment. Thanks to NCLB, the evidence is irrefutable that all kids can learn if given an opportunity to succeed, regardless of their zip code or income. However, the law's reforms are now outdated. It is now restraining schools from making the kinds of improvements needed to benefit students, communities and the economy.
That’s why there is broad consensus to take what we have learned from educators, parents, school districts, states and other advocates, and create an education system for the 21st century. A fundamental rewrite of NCLB should reflect current best practices, be built on college and career ready standards, and protect kids in the process.
For decades, Democrats and Republicans have recognized that America’s long-term economic strength depends on quality educational opportunities for all children. And for decades, education laws have been written on a bipartisan basis. This has proved a successful model for everyone, especially for children.
While parties in both Houses working together is the tried and true way to accomplish education reform, House Republicans have now opted to walk away from bipartisanship and craft partisan legislation. By abandoning efforts to reach a consensus, this partisanship shuts the door on NCLB reform in this Congress. And the end of the rewrite of this law means our nation’s children will be stuck under an outdated law for the foreseeable future.
Failing to rewrite NCLB is tragic. In a child’s educational life, every year, every semester, matters. They cannot afford to wait until sixth grade or tenth grade to get the education they deserve. That’s why the Administration is doing what it can, absent congressional action, offering states flexibility from NCLB that reflects the consensus on how to improve upon current law. Nearly 40 states have signed up.
Instead of pushing a partisan bill down a predictable path of failure, it’s time that Congress come together to get things done on behalf of the American people. Hammering out a consensus and getting education reform right are not easy tasks, but they are entirely doable. Democrats and Republicans working together is the only way forward for our nation’s children, our economy and our national competitiveness. When adults work together, kids win.”
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