Murray Statement on the Department of Education’s Proposed Accountability Rule

Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed regulation on the accountability provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

“As we worked to fix the broken No Child Left Behind and pass our new bill into law, I fought hard to make sure we not only provided states and school districts with flexibility, but that we maintained strong federal guardrails for the design of state accountability systems so that every student has the opportunity to learn, regardless of where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make. I am glad to see the Department is moving forward to provide much needed clarity for states and school districts as they work to use the flexibility provided under the new law in redesigning their accountability systems to ensure equity of opportunity for all students and close achievement gaps. This clarity will help states and school districts continue to engage in a process across the country collaborating directly with teachers, school administrators, parents and civil rights organizations to create their own accountability systems.

“I am reviewing the regulation and will be taking a close look at the proposed parameters for accountability systems, state plan requirements, and reporting requirements included in the draft to ensure we maintain the focus on preparing all students for success in college and career. It’s important to get this right, so as the rulemaking process moves forward with public comment, I hope teachers, parents, school administrators, civil rights groups, and other stakeholders get involved in the process and provide the Department with feedback on this proposal.”

###