[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1177, STUDENT SUCCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2015

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
speak about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which seeks to 
replace the broken No Child Left Behind law. While I still have 
concerns with some provisions in this legislation, I believe this bill 
will serve our children better than the status quo. For example, the 
current waiver system has allowed states to ignore schools that are 
failing students. That is unacceptable and cannot continue.
  I am concerned by the lack of federal oversight in implementing and 
enforcing many provisions of this bill. For example, states are left to 
determine how and when to intervene in schools that are failing 
children. We must guarantee that there is substantial federal role in 
ensuring states meet their obligations. Further, we must guarantee 
state and district implementation boards are inclusive, diverse, and 
adequately represent students of all needs and circumstances.
  Despite shortcomings in the bill, I was pleased to see that states 
will now be required to collect and report data on incidences of 
bullying and harassment in school--an issue I have been working on for 
many years. It is a small, but powerful step in ensuring all children 
feel safe at school.
  I voted for this bill because No Child Left Behind is simply not 
working. In four years, I look forward to revisiting reauthorization of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to achieve an even more 
effective long-term policy.

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