Every Student Succeeds Act Passes, Rep. Clark Offers Praise

The U.S. Senate passed the Every Student Succeeds Act this week, with Congresswoman Katherine Clark offering praise for the nation’s K-12 education reform bill clearing the way to become law.

Clark serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and was enlisted by democratic leadership to be 1 of 7 House Democratic conferees to negotiate with the U.S. Senate on the final draft of the bill.

Rep. Clark represents a district that includes Arlington, Framingham, Holliston, Lexington, Melrose, Malden, Natick, Sherborn, Sudbury, Waltham, Wayland, Weston and Woborn

“This bill improves on the deeply flawed No Child Left Behind by empowering teachers and protecting resources for schools in underserved communities,” said Rep. Clark in a statement. “It ensures accountability and equality of access while reducing reliance on high stakes tests. It supports critical trauma-informed education for students living with toxic stress and violence. For the first time, we have a bill that invests in early learning with Preschool Development Grants. While not perfect, this legislation brings us closer to our fundamental promise to every child – that every child gets a fair shot at their dream.”

Photo (submitted): Congresswoman Katherine Clark with Randi Weingarten (left), president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lily Eskelsen Garcia (right), president of the National Education Association at the official enrollment ceremony to send the nation’s education reform bill to President Obama.