Senate Vote on Eliminating ESSA Regulations

Yesterday, a Senate majority voted to repeal regulations created to ensure that states meet the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) when drafting their state plans. The Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC), a national coalition of students, parents, educators, organizers and advocates, opposes the repeal as it will strip federal oversight over states developing ESSA state plans.

The regulations were put in place to ensure that schools and districts develop ESSA plans that strive to provide equitable education for all students. As our federal partner, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., remarked in their statement, “This action dismisses consideration of the twenty-one thousand public comments from educators, parents, advocates, and other stakeholders, as well as the work and expertise of the U.S. Department of Education in crafting these rules. The joint resolution now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

The Dignity in Schools Campaign will continue to monitor the full implementation of the ESSA law and we encourage the public to use our resources to support your ESSA advocacy efforts.