releases: http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3333
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3333 | Sen. Franken: No Child Left Behind Overhaul Will Improve Education in Minnesota, Help Students and Schools Succeed | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Al Franken | F000457 | franken.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) called a bipartisan overhaul to "No Child Left Behind"which has governed our federal K-12 education policies for the past 13 yearsa critical step to helping improve education in Minnesota and across the country.The bill, which passed in the Senate today and is soon slated to become law, gets rid of the high pressure, high-stakes approaches that have failed our schools under "No Child Left Behind" and instead finally allows schools to focus on each child's abilities to succeed and their potential for growth. Furthermore, it includes several provisions written by Sen. Franken to help Minnesota students and schools succeed."Over the past 13 years under No Child Left Behind, we've learned a lot about what works in our education policiesand a whole lot more about what doesn't work."said Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Education Committee."I've always said that the only thing I liked about No Child Left Behind was its name, and now we have the opportunity to get things right. There's nothing more important to our kids' futuresand our country's economic futurethan providing them with a good education. While this isn't a perfect bill, I'm pleased we got this reform effort accomplished."Among the biggest victories in this bill is ensuring that states have more flexibility. The one-size-fits-all approach to fixing failing schools wasn't working, and this bill will help address that. And I am proud that so many of the provisions I authored are included in this billthings like strengthening STEM education, expanding student mental health services, increasing access to accelerated learning courses that help high school students earn college credit, and improving the recruitment and preparation of quality school principals."Once the President signs the measure, I'm going to work hard to make sure that the new law is implemented in the most effective way possible, so that it benefits students, parents, teachers, and schools in Minnesota. This is a big win."Sen. Franken took a key role in helping craft the education reform measure that passed today, and for the past several weeks, he has served on the House-Senate committee tasked with hammering out details of the final legislation. He wrote several provisions in the legislation, including: Mental Health in Schools. Sen. Franken's mental health in schools provision enables schools to partner with community-based organizations to expand access to mental health services for students. These provisions also support training for school staff and volunteers to help them recognize the signs of behavioral health problems in students and refer them for appropriate services. Principal Training and Recruitment. This provision improves the preparation, placement, and retention of effective principals in high-need schools. Computer Adaptive Testing. Sen. Franken's bipartisan computer adaptive testing provision allows states to use computer adaptive tests that include questions within, as well as above and below, grade level. Such tests give teachers and school systems the ability to more accurately measure each student's achievement level and determine student growth. Accelerated Learning. This bipartisan provision seeks to raise student academic achievement and save students and families money through accelerated learning programs. That includes things like Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment programs, and early college high schools that provide postsecondary-level instruction, examinations, or sequences of courses that are widely accepted for credit at institutions of higher education. STEM Education.This bipartisan provision improves STEM education and teacher professional development. This program also helps raise the stature and status of the STEM teaching profession by supporting colleges and universities in their efforts to improve math and science teacher training. 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This bipartisan provision renews a current program to create community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during after school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. School Counseling. Sen. Franken's provision allows school-employed counseling professionals, such as school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists, to work together to create and expand comprehensive school counseling programs. Counseling programs emphasize prevention and early intervention, engage families, and incorporate research-based approaches to promote students' academic success. Native American Language Immersion. This bipartisan provision creates a program for the purpose of supporting and developing programs that provide Native Language Immersion opportunities for students at pre-K through postsecondary education levels. Education of Students in Foster Care.Sen. Franken's bipartisan provision improves the educational stability of students in foster care by improving collaboration between child welfare agencies and state and local educational agencies. It allows children to remain in their school of origin if it is in their best interest, and makes sure that funding for school transportation is available for those children. A point of contact for education of foster children is appointed in the local educational agency when there is also a point of contact in the corresponding child welfare agency. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |