By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Martha Roby (R) from Montgomery announced in a written statement that the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed legislation designed to reduce the federal footprint in K-12 education.
H.R. 5, The Student Success Act was cosponsored by Representative Roby.
Rep. Roby said, “We need excellent teachers in every classroom and inspired administrators in every school. But even the most gifted educators can be hamstrung by unrealistic federal mandates and bureaucratic red tape. This top-down, Washington-knows-best approach to education isn’t working. It’s time to get Washington out of the way and return control over education policy to state and local leaders.”
Congresswoman Roby said, “I was proud to vote to advance the Student Success Act and get one step closer to passing this important legislation.
Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) have shown great leadership and discernment in crafting legislation that truly reflects the needs of our students, teachers and parents.”
Rep. Roby is also the sponsor of the standalone legislation, the Defending State Authority Over Education Act which would reduce the coercive influence of the U.S. Department of Education, which uses grants to coerce school boards to adopt federal mandates. That legislation was endorsed by leaders across Alabama. H.R. 5 incorporates the legislative language from Roby’s bill within Section 467.
In addition to the Roby reforms the Student Success Act of 2013 also:
Repeals the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) from the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and replaces it with state-determined accountability systems giving authority for measuring student performance back to states and local school districts.
Consolidates existing federal K-12 education programs into a new Local Academic Flexible Grant and repeals the federal “Highly Qualified Teacher” requirements turning over teacher evaluation to the states and local school districts while creating funding flexibility.
The Student Success Act of 2013 is sponsored by Chairman John Kline (R) from Minnesota. Roby in her press release says that she expects this legislation to be voted on by the whole House this summer. If passed this legislation goes to the U.S. Senate.
Many people in Alabama including Governor Robert Bentley (R) and the Alabama Republican Executive Committee oppose the federalization of education as represented by the Common Core Standards.
Congresswoman Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
