Senator Lankford Supports Bill to Repeal No Child Left Behind, Expand State Role in Education

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today supported the Every Student Succeeds Act (S. 1177), which replaces No Child Left Behind and returns education decisions for students back to parents, teachers, local school boards, and state officials. The bill eliminates the heavy-handed, Washington-based approach of No Child Left Behind, which forced more than 42 states, including Oklahoma, to operate under waivers from the Department of Education.

“After years of bureaucratic top-down federal education policy, Congress has finally agreed on a plan that is more student-focused, not Washington-focused,” said Lankford. “Because of this legislation, Oklahomans will no longer have to beg for yearly waivers from the federal government to decide upon our own state educational standards, and we will not have to worry about students losing instructional time to prepare for a federal test. This bill isn’t perfect, but it puts the choice of education back in the hands of the people that know best—parents, teachers, school boards and state leaders. Parents are the primary educators of their children and we should continue to find ways to prioritize our families and our schools.”

Lankford released a video discussing his support for the ESSA. The bill passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support of 85-12. 

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