Rep. Miller Statement on New Republican Education Proposal
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 after the Republican majority on the committee released two pieces of draft legislation to rewrite the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
“The Kline draft language ignores our responsibility to parents, students and taxpayers. They deserve better.
“The release of this draft marks a good day for proponents of the status quo or, worse, those who would take our education system back decades.
“It marks a bad day for students who want to be ready for college or a career by the time they graduate high school.
“And it marks a frightening day for parents who simply want a solid and equal education for their children, whether they are parents of students with disabilities, English Language Learners, or low-income or minority children.
“The draft language abandons students, parents, and taxpayers alike by failing to hold school systems accountable for improving student achievement. It walks away from the broad consensus reached throughout the country that our schools must prepare students to graduate college-ready and career-ready. It undermines programs for our most vulnerable students, shirking the civil rights responsibilities of the federal government. It eliminates critical programs and funding that promote a balanced education such as those that create a well-rounded curriculum or wrap-around services for students. Additionally, the Kline draft removes critical assurances to taxpayers that states and districts maintain education funding.
“While I continue to review the draft language, I remain concerned that Chairman Kline has decided to draft a partisan bill, shutting the door on the tried and true way of achieving reform – bipartisanship. This move will only leave America’s schools, teachers and students with the outdated No Child Left Behind law. I urge Chairman Kline to reconsider this decision and return to efforts to reach a bipartisan consensus that serves the interests of all the nation’s children.”
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