Senate Hearing on Implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
January 1, 2018
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The Frame
The hearing addresses the balance of power in education policy, specifically whether the Department of Education is adhering to new federal law that limits its authority to dictate state and local school standards, teacher evaluations, and school improvement plans.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
State and Local School Boards
These entities are the primary recipients of the authority devolved from the federal government under the new law.
U.S. Department of Education
The agency is subject to new legal prohibitions regarding its oversight and mandate-setting capabilities.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on April 12, 2016, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed with significant bipartisan support (359-64 in the House; 85-12 in the Senate).
- The law is described as the largest devolution of education responsibility from the federal government to states in 25 years.
- The legislation includes explicit prohibitions on the Secretary of Education's authority to dictate state academic standards, teacher evaluations, and school improvement methods.
- Chairman Lamar Alexander stated this is the second of at least six planned oversight hearings regarding ESSA implementation.
- The committee expressed concern that the Department of Education may be acting as a 'national school board' despite the new law's restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?
Why were Senators questioning the Secretary of Education?
Why It Matters
The hearing addresses the balance of power in education policy, specifically whether the Department of Education is adhering to new federal law that limits its authority to dictate state and local school standards, teacher evaluations, and school improvement plans.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Federal-to-State Power Shift
The document highlights a deliberate legislative effort to reverse 25 years of federal centralization in education policy.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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