Murray, Scott Criticize Secretary DeVos on Rushed and Problematic State Plan Template

Secretary DeVos’ new state plan template does not compel public input, which is required in the Every Student Succeeds Act

Murray and Scott: “Republicans may have voted to step away from our bipartisan education law, but Secretary DeVos is still obligated to comply with the requirements of ESSA and implement it to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn no matter where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make”

(Washington, D.C.) –Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, released the following statement today on Secretary DeVos’ state plan template, which does not require stakeholder engagement or public comment, raising a number of initial concerns about whether this template complies with the Every Student Succeeds Act.

“We are disappointed that Secretary DeVos is casting aside input from teachers, parents and stakeholders and is refusing to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act as Congress intended,” said Senator Murray and Representative Scott. “Without the strong federal guardrails ESSA puts in place – including requirements for stakeholder consultation and a common state plan – decision making becomes less transparent and puts our most vulnerable children at risk of falling through the cracks. Republicans may have voted to step away from our bipartisan education law, but Secretary DeVos is still obligated to comply with the requirements of ESSA and implement it to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn no matter where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make.”

Last week, Senator Murray and Representative Scott sent a letter to Secretary DeVos inquiring about the Department’s proposed state template and encouraging the Department to make sure the plan complies with the federal guardrails the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) puts in place. The Department of Education did not respond to Senator Murray and Representative Scott’s questions before releasing this state plan template.

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