04.16.15

Scott Statement on the Senate’s Every Child Achieves Act

WASHINGTON – House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) released the following statement today on the passage of the Every Child Achieves Act by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

“Today's unanimous passage of the Every Child Achieves Act by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions should serve as an example of bipartisanship for the House of Representatives to follow.

“While today represents another step in a long deliberative process to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, a bill worthy of the President's signature will only be achieved when both Democrats and Republicans in both chambers are engaged in finding a bipartisan solution to the real challenges that students, families, teachers, and communities face across this country.

“I remain concerned that the Every Child Achieves Act lacks necessary protections to ensure states and school districts meet the needs of all students. Reauthorization of the ESEA must fulfill the intent and promise embodied in this cornerstone civil rights law for 50 years—to ensure equal educational opportunity for our nation's most vulnerable students: students who are low-income, minority students, students with disabilities, and students who do not speak English.

“I remain committed to working with my colleagues in both chambers to make needed improvements as the process continues.”

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