Rep. Ellison Statement on Student Success Act

Statement

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement today after voting against the Student Success Act (H.R. 5), a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.

"Educating all children, regardless of their zip code, is one the most important challenges we face as a nation. Equity must be at the heart of any attempt to overhaul our education system. But the Student Success Act does little to help kids in Minnesota who are struggling in schools with too few resources.

"We know we must do better to educate students of color at a higher level, but the bill today will only increase the achievement gap. The Student Success Act freezes funding and redirects dollars away from schools that need it most. The bill emphasizes testing over teacher development. It requires states to invest in private schools, pulling money away from schools serving all students.

"We need to remake education policy, but ignoring the disparities that exist is not the way to do it. A federal education bill should ensure all students learn the fundamentals in elementary school, teach key skills to thrive in high school and ready every child for the demands of higher education. The Student Success Act gives up on too many of our kids--kids who have the potential to cure cancer, run for president, teach in our schools or realize their dreams."

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