Earlier this afternoon, Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives decided not pursue today’s scheduled vote on partisan reauthorization of ESEA, otherwise known as the “Student Success Act” (H.R. 5). Despite previous inclinations, House Republicans struggled to secure enough support for the bill, as disputes regarding Common Core academic standards and the federal government’s role in public education, continued to fester throughout the floor debate process. In addition, the looming possibility of a government shutdown may have complicated the House leadership’s agenda further. Unfortunately, it is now unclear when ESEA will be brought up again for a vote in the House.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Capitol, Senate (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) are continuing their efforts to produce a bipartisan ESEA reauthorization bill. What impact today’s developments in the House have on that process, remains to be seen. For the moment, however, all indications are that negotiations continue, in good faith.
Ronny Lau, Special Assistant, Center for Advocacy and Constituency Engagement, February 27, 2015. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org).
