H.R. 5 - Student Success Act - Myths vs. Facts

With H.R. 5 (Student Success Act) on the House floor for a vote today, here are the common myths and facts associated with this legislation.  H.R. 5 reauthorizes/amends No Child Left Behind eliminating many of the more controversial aspects of the program.

Common Core:

• State standards, but current law has permitted federal coercion for states to adopt
• H.R. 5 eliminates federal coercion:
  • Eliminates Race to the Top, which was the funding stream used for coercion
  • Eliminates No Child Left Behind proficiency standards – negating need for waivers
  • Removes Secretary of ED’s authority to issue conditional waivers
• Zeldin Amendment:
  • Allows states to withdraw from Common Core or other specific standards

Annual Testing:

• “High Stakes” federally designed tests are repealed
• Flexibility to design annual tests for students with disabilities in place of regular state assessment tests is included
• Annual tests will be designed by the states – strengthening states’ rights that are currently trumped by federal intervention
• Secretary of ED cannot arbitrarily deny states’ testing plans
  • Federal requirements are loosely defined to allow state flexibility
• Goodlatte Amendment:
  • Provides states with the authority to administer their own, locally designed academic assessment system in place of state-designed
• Annual tests provide critical information on student achievement and school success that can be vital to parental involvement in school choice initiatives

Title I Portability:

• Grants States the authority to use federal funds to follow qualified low-income students to a public school of their parent’s choosing
• Title I funds cannot be used in private schools
• Portability will not force private school to adopt Common Core standards
• Flores Amendment
  • Reaffirms students, teachers and schools administrators’ right to exercise religion

Parental Rights:

• Supports Charter school expansion increases school choice
• Strengthens magnet school program increases school choice
• Title I portability increases school choice
• Statewide Family Engagement Centers – grants encourage states to support family-school partnerships
• H.R. 5 specifically and intentionally designates parents as stakeholders