Former Senator Lamar Alexander discusses the development and passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The interview covers the legislative negotiations that replaced No Child Left Behind with a new federal framework.
Key Points
- ESSA shifted significant education authority from federal to state governments.
- Alexander details bipartisan negotiations and key compromises during the bill’s creation.
- The law restructured accountability, funding, and standards requirements for K-12 schools.
Implications for Educational Freedom
ESSA expanded state flexibility over curriculum and accountability systems. This structure affects how states allocate federal education funds and design choice programs. Greater state control can influence parental rights provisions and local policy options.
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