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Chris Williams
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Megan Boldt
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ST. PAUL, Minn. June 16, 2015 – Education Minnesota President Denise Specht released the following statement in reaction to passage by the U.S. Senate of the Every Child Achieves Act, the bipartisan overhaul of the No Child Left Behind law.

“The failed policies of No Child Left Behind are almost behind us,” Specht said. “Today the Senate took a big step toward reducing high-stakes testing in schools, increasing access to early childhood programs and holding schools accountable for providing programs and services to the students who need them the most.”

“It will take weeks or months for the conference committee to reach a successful compromise that keeps the best elements of the Senate bill, but it is clear Congress has lost its appetite for micromanaging local schools,” Specht said. “Education Minnesota welcomes the opportunity to work with policy-makers and partners in Minnesota to create school environments that prepare every child for a successful life.”

“One disappointment in the bill was the Senate’s failure to adopt Sen. Al Franken’s proposal to legally protect LGBT students from bullying and discrimination in schools,” Specht said. “We will continue to support the senator’s efforts to get this important provision into the final bill.”
 

About Education Minnesota

Education Minnesota represents 70,000 professionals working together for excellence in education for all students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.