Senate Education Committee Passes Every Child Achieves Act

Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously passed the Every Child Achieves Act, a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB). This is another step toward reauthorization of the ESEA/NCLB. National PTA is pleased to see movement on this important piece of legislation. Comprehensive reauthorization of the ESEA/NCLB is National PTA’s top legislative priority this Congress.

Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) praised his colleagues and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) for their hard work and bipartisanship during the three day markup of the bill. The bill will now go to the floor of the U.S. Senate where all Senators will be able to debate and have the opportunity to amendment the bill. We are hearing that the bill could be brought to the floor in mid-May or June.

National PTA and Colorado PTA worked with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) to introduce an amendment that would create a program to authorize Statewide Family Engagement Centers as a replacement to Parent Information and Resource Centers, which were eliminated in the bill. Senator Bennet offered his amendment but then withdrew it. This was done for strategic reasons, and the Senator plans to offer it again on the Senate floor. National PTA seeks to strengthen the family engagement provisions in the bill and will be asking PTA advocates to reach out to their Senators to ensure that the Every Child Achieves Act has specific improvements that prioritize capacity building for the implementation of systemic and sustainable family engagement practices that increase student achievement.

During the markup, several amendments passed that National PTA supported, including the elementary and secondary school counseling program; the Javits gifted and talented program; the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which would provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours; and an amendment that would provide resources to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs in schools. These amendments provide needed resources and supports to students and schools and are aligned with PTA’s 2015 Public Policy Agenda.

Another PTA-supported amendment that passed would enable states and school districts to conduct audits of their testing systems to reduce low-quality, misaligned and redundant tests.

National PTA is also pleased to see the passage of an education technology amendment that would foster innovative technology initiatives in classrooms and schools and provide professional development for educators as well as a grant program that would improve coordination, quality and access to early learning opportunities for children and families.

We are thankful that no public or private school portability or voucher amendments passed in Committee; however, both Senators Alexander and Scott (R-SC) vowed to introduce portability amendments on the Senate floor.

We will need PTA advocates to gear up for the action on the Senate floor to strengthen family engagement provisions and ensure that every child has the resources and support he/she needs to reach his/her full potential.

Stay tuned for more updates on the reauthorization of the ESEA/NCLB through the One Voice Blog and by following @NationalPTA on Twitter.


Jacki Ball is the director of government affairs at National PTA. Follow her on Twitter at @balljacki.

Advocate on Behalf of Family Engagement

CapitolThis week over 200 state and local PTA volunteers came to Washington, DC to advocate on behalf of family engagement and ask their members of Congress to cosponsor the Family Engagement in Education Act (H.R. 1194/S. 622), National PTA’s key legislative priority.  The bipartisan bill was reintroduced on March 2, 2015 by Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Chris Coons (D-DE).  PTA encourages you to take action as well to ensure your member of Congress is a cosponsor.

More than 40 years of research confirms that when parents and families are engaged in their child’s education, they are more likely to attend school regularly, have increased levels of achievement and more likely to graduate on time. Additionally, family engagement also improves behavioral and social and emotional outcomes for students and supports a positive school culture and climate among parents, teachers and school leadership. In fact, studies show that engaging families is also cost effective; schools would have to spend more than $1,000 dollars per pupil to get the same results.

The Family Engagement in Education Act provides resources for schools and districts on best practices in engaging parents to raise student achievement, supports teachers and principals by providing professional development for educators on how to partner with parents to close the achievement gap, and builds statewide and local capacity to engage parents.

Importantly, the bill puts forth a framework for systemic, integrated, and sustainable family engagement at all levels, while allowing the flexibility and resources for local innovation and strategic partnerships, without authorizing any new spending.

National PTA government affairs staff will continue to work with advocates and policymakers to ensure that provisions of the Family Engagement in Education Act will be a part of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

Jacki Ball is the Director of Government Affairs at National PTA. Contact Jacki at jball@pta.org.

March 10-12 marks the 215 National PTA Legislative Conference, which gives participants the chance to have in-depth discussions about PTA’s public policy priorities through interactive workshops, keynote speakers, advocacy trainings and more. During the conference, PTA advocates from across the country will have the opportunity to amplify their voices at the federal level by advocating on behalf of PTA and influencing lawmakers. Learn more about National PTA’s Legislative Conference and take action now to urge Congress to cosponsor the bipartisan Family Engagement in Education Act of 2015.