Murray, Scott Comment on Final ESSA Accountability Rule; Call for Continued Work to Help All Students Receive Quality Public Education

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, released the following statements on the U.S. Department of Education’s final regulation on the accountability provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

“While we are disappointed that this final rule doesn’t go as far as we would have hoped, we commend the Department of Education for listening to stakeholders, including teachers, parents, principals, superintendents and many others, in revising and finalizing its accountability regulation. This rule will provide states and school districts with much needed stability and clarity as they work to submit state plans and implement statewide accountability systems.

“Passing ESSA was a critical step in our work to make sure all children have access to a high-quality public education, no matter where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make. But a law is only as good as its implementation—and there is still much work to be done to ensure effective implementation that honors Congress’ longstanding and bipartisan intent to protect and promote educational equity.

“Finalizing this rule is an important step, and we will work with our Committee colleagues and the incoming Administration to ensure that ESSA is implemented in a way that provides states and school districts with the necessary guidance to carry out the law, reflects Congress’s intent to uphold the law’s civil rights legacy, and offers every child in our nation the opportunity to succeed. We stand committed to working toward these goals and protecting the progress we’ve made.”

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