State and Local Education Leaders to Discuss Next Steps for Every Student Succeeds Act

On Wed., Feb. 10 at 10:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), will hold a hearing entitled, “Next Steps for K-12 Education: Implementing the Promise to Restore State and Local Control.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

In December 2015, Congress passed and the president signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act. The law replaces the failed No Child Left Behind with reforms that reduce the federal role and restore state and local control. For example, the law includes numerous restrictions on the authority of the secretary of education, prohibits the federal government from forcing, coercing, or incentivizing states into adopting Common Core, and returns responsibility for accountability and school improvement to state and local leaders.

Moving forward, Congress will work to ensure the Department of Education implements the law as lawmakers intended. Wednesday’s hearing will provide members the opportunity to learn about state and local leaders’ priorities for implementing the new law, as well as discuss ways to ensure the law restores state and local control over K-12 education.

Hartselle City School Superintendent, Dr. Vic Wilson will be one of the local leaders speaking before the committee. Wilson will be speaking on the newly passed ESS Act and how education will be delivered.

Others include Oklahoma City, Ok Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ms. Joy Hofmeister; Ms. Selene A. Almazan, Esq, Legal Director Council of Parent Attorneys and Advoctes, Inc.; and Mr. Kent D. Talbert, Attorney at Law, Washington D.C.