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Statement from Gov. Bob Wise on Senate Vote to Repeal ESSA Accountability Regulations

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to repeal important accountability regulations under the Every Student Succeeds Act that were issued by the Obama administration. In response, Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia, made the following statement:

“States need clarity and certainty, not confusion from Congress. Unfortunately, that is what they received today.

“The Senate’s vote to repeal the accountability regulations discards important safeguards and opportunities to ensure every student is making progress.

“The rules give states both the clarity and flexibility they need move forward with implementation of ESSA, which is why they are supported by everyone from civil rights groups to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Repealing them now—less than a month before a third of the states submit their plans to the Education Department—creates uncertainty and confusion for all those working hard to move forward with the transition to the new law.

“The Alliance hopes that states will continue to use the regulations as a roadmap to help ensure that their plans give all students access to an excellent and well-rounded education, and will remember that the most important equity provisions—statewide accountability, transparency for parents, and required intervention in struggling schools—are in the statute itself.”

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The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, DC–based national policy, practice, and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, a career, and citizenship. www.all4ed.org