{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/inhofe-statement-on-extension-of-oklahomas-esea-flexibility", "Inhofe Statement on Extension of Oklahomas ESEA Flexibility", "2014-11-25", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "OK", "James Inhofe", "I000024", "www.inhofe.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Inhofe Statement on Extension of Oklahoma\u2019s ESEA Flexibility\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 25, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U. S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Education announcing yesterday that the State of Oklahoma has been granted an extension of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility:\r\n\u201cAfter initially denying Oklahoma\u2019s request for continued flexibility from the strict regulations of ESEA in order to complete the development and implementation of Oklahoma\u2019s\u00a0college- and career- ready standards, it is welcome news that the U.S. Department of Education has reinstated our state's waiver. This will give Oklahoma\u2019s teachers, administrators, and school children the needed flexibility to meet and exceed the current standards set by the U.S. Department of Education.\u00a0I have always been a strong supporter of giving more control of the education of our children to local communities, and in June I\u00a0introduced the\u00a0Local School Board Governance and Flexibility Act\u00a0to limit burdensome, big-government education regulation from the federal government.\u00a0I\u00a0am proud to work close with the Oklahoma delegation and stakeholders to ensure Oklahoma\u2019s communities, parents, and students have a greater voice\u00a0in Oklahoma\u2019s education system.\u201d\r\n   On Aug. 25, the\u00a0Oklahoma Delegation sent a letter\u00a0to the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan requesting the agency to consider a one-year extension of Oklahoma\u2019s Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility in order to continue developing elementary and secondary education standards in conjunction with institutions of higher education.\u00a0On Aug. 28th, the U.S. Department of Education denied Oklahoma\u2019s flexibility request. On Oct. 16th\u00a0Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education determined the state\u2019s Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) subject matter standards were college- and career- ready.\r\n   In a\u00a0letter dated Nov. 10, the Oklahoma delegation again urged Secretary Duncan to grant ESEA Flexibility to the State of Oklahoma in light of the development of the PASS standards, in order to avoid costly implementation of No Child Left Behind standards, and to provide certainty and stability to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/inhofe-statement-on-extension-of-oklahomas-esea-flexibility"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.832794863730669, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}