ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Dec. 10, 2015) — Today, President Barack Obama signed the Every Student
Succeeds Act of 2015 into law. This landmark legislation—which received
overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and Senate—reauthorizes the long
overdue Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB).
This new law brings needed improvements to K-12 education in the
United States, provides greater responsibility to states to meet the needs of all
students and acknowledges the essential role of family engagement to student
achievement.
“National PTA commends
President Obama for swiftly signing the Every Student Succeeds Act into law and
his commitment to improving education to make sure every student is prepared for
long-term success,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “The Every
Student Succeeds Act is a marked improvement over previous law and provides
great opportunity to strengthen family engagement in education and ensure all
students reach their full potential. Now is the time for all of us to
work together at the federal, state and local levels to make certain that this
law makes a difference for the futures of our nation’s children.”
For years, PTAs and families
have been advocating for a comprehensive, bipartisan reauthorization of
ESEA/NCLB that includes robust family engagement provisions. The Every Student
Succeeds Act (ESSA) contains a Statewide Family Engagement Centers program that
will provide states and districts with the capacity to support effective
implementation and enhancement of family engagement policies and initiatives.
The law also includes improvements to Title I that will require districts to
conduct family engagement activities that are proven to make a difference for
students and schools. PTA remains committed to working with policymakers to
embed evidence-based family engagement policies and practices in all aspects of
a child’s educational continuum.
“PTAs, families and Statewide
Family Engagement Centers play an important role in the successful
implementation of ESSA and ensuring that all children receive a quality
education by holding states and districts accountable,” said Nathan R. Monell,
CAE, National PTA executive director. “National PTA is committed to empowering
all families to be active participants in state and local implementation of the
law, support student success and make the promise of ESEA/ESSA a reality for
all children.”
About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers,
administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational
success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is
a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a
powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and
communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is
open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the
education, health, and welfare of children and youth.
About Washington State PTA
The Washington State PTA was founded in 1905 by Abby Williams Hill of Tacoma, an artist who saw the need for an organization to support children in the state. Thanks to her leadership and vision - and the work of over 132,000 current members who have carried her vision forward - Washington State PTA has been a leading voice for children in Washington for over 110 years.
