releases: https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397987
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397987 | Sweeping K-12 education bill passes House | 2015-12-02 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | CO | Jared Polis | P000598 | polis.house.gov | legacy | On a vote of 359-64, the House of Representatives just passed a bill that would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replace the existing law known as No Child Left Behind. The bill will move states beyond the stringent, outdated policies of No Child Left Behind, help reduce the amount of testing in our nations schools, and give more decision-making power back to states and districts. House passage is one of the final steps in the process to update the nations most sweeping K-12 law, which hasnt been done since 2001. The bill now goes to the Senate, where a vote is expected next week, and if it passes that chamber, will be sent to the President to be signed into law. "Todays passage is a huge milestone for improving our countrys public schools" Polis said. Education is the single most powerful tool for creating opportunity and lifting people out of poverty. But our countrys current education policy, No Child Left Behind, while well-intentioned, has been failing our students by imposing a one-size-fits-all flawed accountability system on states. The Every Student Succeeds Act while not perfect represents principled compromise that will move our education system forward. It reduces the emphasis on testing, provides greater flexibility for state accountability systems, and maintains ESEAs original intent as a civil rights law first and foremost. "The Every StudentSucceeds Act gives schools the flexibility they need to innovate and improve, but not the flexibility to do nothing and allow failing schools to continue to leave kids behind." Tackling big challenges like fixing No Child Left Behind is exactly what our constituents sent us to Washington to do and Im proud to work across the aisle with my colleagues in the House to finally get this done, Polis added. As a senior member of the House Education Committee, Rep. Polis was one of seven House Democrats chosen earlier this month to serve on the conference committee charged with crafting the bill. The conference committee negotiated the final version of the bill after separate ones passed the House and Senate over the summer. The final bill includes several measures championed by Polis that reflect Colorado priorities, including: A dual-enrollment amendment Polis successfully offered in conference committee that allows federal funds currently devoted to English language learners to be used for dual or concurrent enrollment, a model that has been employed with widespread success across Colorado. A grant program for innovation and evidence-based learning based off a bill Polis re-introduced in February. This program has helped schools across the country, including St. Vrain Valley School District, which received a $3.6 million innovation grant in 2010 to expand programs for at-risk students in seven schools. Because of the innovation grant, St. Vrain was able to extend the school year at four elementary schools, target math students at risk of failing at two middle schools, and fully implement the STEM Academy at Skyline High School. A measure that allows federal funds to be used for open education resources, based off an amendment Polis successfully included in the House version of the bill. Several schools in Colorados second Congressional district are transitioning to one-to-one classrooms where each student has his or her own iPad or Chromebook and this bill would encourage effective ed tech programs like these. Polis led opposition to the initial House bill on the floor in February and fought for several changes needed to help schools pursue innovative learning models and ensure school districts were accountable to all students, regardless of their race or background. Polis has spent his career in public service fighting for a strong education system. He is the founder and former superintendent of New America School, a network of charter schools in Colorado and New Mexico, and hes the former chair of the Colorado Board of Education. He also co-founded the Academy of Urban Learning, a charter school in Denver. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |