Senator Scott Statement on HELP Passage of No Child Left Behind Reform

Washington– U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) released the statement below following the unanimous passage of the Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA)by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee this afternoon. The ECAA reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding K-12 education throughout the nation.

“I am pleased the HELP Committee was able to take an important first step with today’s passage of the Every Child Achieves Act. This critical legislation will help put decision-making back in the hands of parents and communities, and limits the roles of bureaucrats in Washington, DC. I am proud we were able to include language ending federal interference on state academic standards such as Common Core, and to provide a foundation that allows states to implement pay-for-performance plans for teachers and administrators.

Thankfully the Every Child Achieves Act also provides support for expanding public charter schools. As the legislation moves to the Senate floor, I look forward to a robust debate on expanding school choice across the nation in order to help provide equal opportunity for all of our students to receive a quality education. I will introduce amendments that allow for Title I funding, which is directed to low-income schools, to follow the student, as well as amendments including significant pieces of my CHOICE Act.

I believe school choice is a critical component of improving our education system, and will pursue its inclusion in the final Every Child Achieves Act. I want to thank HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) for their efforts to pass the legislation out of committee, and I look forward to continuing this important conversation on the floor of the full Senate.”

Senator Scott has been a leading voice for school choice in the U.S. Senate, and has introduced his CHOICE Act to expand school choice for children with disabilities, military families and low-income communities. Earlier this week, he led a spirited debate over Title I portability in HELP Committee.