03.09.17

Polis Statement on Senate Passage of Resolution to Unravel School Accountability Measures

WASHINGTON: Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., released the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate passage of H.J. Res 57, a resolution to overturn key accountability protections in the Every Student Succeeds Act.

“The Senate’s vote today represents another example of Republicans chipping away at our bipartisan work on the Every Student Succeeds Act,” Polis said. “The accountability provisions in the law represent critical civil rights protections for students and go hand-in-hand with the Department of Education’s regulations. By passing this resolution, Republicans have signaled that when they talk about “civil rights,” it’s nothing more than words. President Trump now has an opportunity to show whose side he’s really on. Will he stand with the students who depend on these protections so they don’t fall further into the shadows and further behind? Or will he side with Republican special interests who put sound bites over students? I implore President Trump to do the right thing and veto this harmful resolution.”

Polis serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He is the Ranking Member on the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee and a member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee.

Polis is a former Chair of the Colorado State Board of Education, and the founder and former superintendent of The New America School - a network of charters schools in several states serving new immigrants and English-language learners - as well as the Academy for Urban Learning for homeless and at-risk youth. He was one of seven House Democrats chosen to serve on the conference committee to reauthorize the Elementary Student Succeeds Act. The district he represents includes Colorado State University, University of Colorado, and several community colleges.

 

Press Contact

Michael Sparks, (202) 225-2161