House Education and the Workforce Committee chairman John Kline (R–MN) and Representative Todd Rokita (R–IN) have introduced the Student Success Act (SSA)—a proposal to rewrite No Child Left Behind (NCLB). While restoring excellence in education will require more than a fix to the bureaucratic NCLB, Kline’s proposal makes some improvements …
Senator Lamar Alexander (R–TN), ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, has just introduced a proposal to “fix” No Child Left Behind (NCLB). While restoring excellence in education will require more than a fix to the bureaucratic law—states should be allowed to opt-out of NCLB entirely—Alexander’s Every …
Two competing forces are pushing on America’s K–12 education system today. One is an effort to infuse education choice into a long-stagnant system, empowering parents with the ability to send their child to a school that meets her unique learning needs. The other is an effort to further centralize education …
This past weekend, Indiana legislators approved a proposal to halt the implementation of Common Core until after preliminary hearings and an in-depth analysis are conducted. The bill now rests on Governor Mike Pence’s (R) desk awaiting his signature. In February, the Indiana state senate voted 38–11 in favor of anti–Common …
Thin Mints and Tagalongs might be a little hard to swallow now for those concerned with centralization of education—and now, civil society institutions. The Girl Scouts of America now boasts that every merit badge is fully aligned with the Common Core State Standards Initiative—an effort to nationalize the content taught …
Michigan legislators are working to put the brakes on Common Core and restore authority over what is taught in Michigan classrooms to state policymakers, local school leaders, and—most importantly—teachers and parents. As the Washington Times reports, “The state House on Wednesday passed an amendment, attached to the Education Department budget, …
Alabama has the opportunity to reclaim its education decision-making authority. It took the first steps toward doing so last week, when the Senate Education Committee approved a measure that would withdraw the Yellowhammer State from the Common Core State Standards Initiative—a push to nationalize standards and assessments across the country. …
What happens when the federal government extends its overreach into America’s classrooms? Should all states be forced to teach kids the same thing? Heritage’s Lindsey Burke, the Will Skillman Fellow in Education, debated the repercussions of the Obama Administration’s push for national education standards on “Stossel” Thursday night. Kathleen Porter-Magee …
After going nearly four years without producing a budget resolution, Senate Democrats today released a plan confirming their mantra about “balanced” approaches has nothing to do with actually balancing the budget. In their view, “balance” is a mix of higher taxes and higher spending, chronic deficits and debt, and a …
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) may be regulatory hell for school leaders—as a reported 7 million man hours of paperwork each year to comply suggests—but “regulatory purgatory” through a strings-attached waiver process is hardly better. That’s how Senator Pat Roberts (R–KS) referred to the Obama Administration’s strings-attached waiver process in …
