June 25, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Michael Capuano (D-Mass) released the following statement on the Department of Education’s announcement regarding progress on the proposed college ratings plan:
“The Department’s pivot in their approach to the college ratings system is a step in the right direction. It is vitally important to protect students’ free choice in where they seek postsecondary education. The federal government’s role in preserving that choice can include ensuring access to relevant information so that students and parents can make informed decisions about their higher education. However, rating colleges and universities, with the intent of tying federal aid to those ratings, is not the job of the federal government. Since we first learned of the Administration’s proposal in 2013, we have been deeply concerned about the unintended consequences that would come as a result of this plan. While we are pleased that the Department appears to be dialing back their ratings plan, we anxiously await the new ‘tools’ the Department of Education plans to unveil later this summer.”
On June 16, 2015, Congressmen Goodlatte and Capuano, joined by eight of their colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary Duncan requesting additional information on the ratings framework and metrics. Earlier this year, Congressmen Goodlatte and Capuano introduced H. Res. 26, a bipartisan resolution opposing the President’s proposal to create a college ratings system.
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Contact: Alison Mills (Rep. Capuano) 617-621-6208