Huelskamp Flunks New Education Bill of 1,000+ Pages

WASHINGTON – Today Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) voted against the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the new, longer replacement for No Child Left Behind (NCLB). ESSA continues the massive federal overreach into America’s classrooms and homes, denying kids and their parents, teachers, schools, and states control over their own schools. The legislation does not repeal all too many of the onerous regulations, mandates, and days of testing that America’s moms, dads and teachers detest. After fourteen years of NCLB, and billions of dollars in new spending, there has been no detectable improvement to education in America.

“With passage of this 1,000+ page bill, Washington continues the core of No Child Left Behind. While we were able to force some reductions in federal power over our kids and their schools, ESSA is not nearly good enough to receive my vote. The heavy hands of Washington politicians and bureaucrats will still dictate what my kids and other Kansas children study, how and when they are tested, who passes or fails, and even what they can be served in the lunchroom. By continuing to subject kids, parents, teachers and our local schools to the idea that Washington knows best in education, we are simply failing our kids, our schools and our nation. 

“Our children are too important to continue business as usual. As the dad of a third-grader and an eighth-grader, I know that my wife and I, teachers, administrators, school boards and state governments are much better equipped to develop curriculum, tests, programs and care for our students than anyone in Washington, Republican or Democrat.”