After bipartisan talks to reauthorize ESEA ended in the U.S. House of Representatives, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) posted two comprehensive Republican reauthorization draft bills to the Committee website, the “Student Success Act” and the “Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act.” The committee also released summaries of both bills.

Key aspects of this new draft legislative package include the elimination of the definition of a highly qualified teacher, returning the authority for student performance and school turnaround to the states and districts, and requiring school districts to develop teacher evaluation systems. Notably, the legislation also eliminates the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant program, Math and Science Partnership Grants, and School Counseling, School Leadership, and Transition to Teaching grants. Instead the bill includes a new program - the Teacher and School Leader Flexible Grants – that includes teacher recruitment and preparation activities, such as developing teacher residencies.  However, the bill does not keep the essential reform components that currently exist in the TQP program.

Given that Ranking Member Miller (D-CA) issued a press release bashing the Republican draft legislation, and Senate HELP committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said that he will not move his Committee’s bipartisan ESEA bill to the floor unless the House first passes its own bipartisan bill, it will be difficult for ESEA reauthorization to be completed in 2012.  

AACTE is actively meeting with House and Senate staff on issues related to ESEA reauthorization. Please check the AACTE Legislative Action Center and join the Grassroots Action Network for opportunities to take action.

If you have any question please contact Jon Gentile This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it