WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) released the following statement after the House passed the Student Success Act (H.R. 5):

“When parents have a choice and great teachers have more flexibility, students have a better shot at an education that will help them succeed and pursue their dreams. The Student Success Act provides both.  I thank Chairman Kline, Chairman Rokita and all of the Members of the Education and the Workforce Committee for their work, and urge the Senate to take up the bill as soon as possible.

“I remain proud of what we accomplished more than a decade ago, but the simple fact is that our nation’s education policies are long overdue for an update.  The No Child Left Behind Act was intended to empower parents with information about their children’s education and weaken the grip of lobbying groups and special-interests on struggling local schools.  More than 10 years later, the Student Success Act builds on and adapts some of the things that worked, and changes some of the things that didn’t.  Like the original No Child Left Behind Act, which actually reduced the number of federal K-12 education programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Student Success Act eliminates ineffective and duplicative federal programs, consolidating many of the programs that have grown and multiplied in the decade since NCLB was enacted.  It protects local schools from new requirements and red tape, and lets school districts identify, recruit, and keep the best teachers possible.

“I’m also pleased the House today adopted Leader Cantor’s school choice amendment to allow states to have Title I funds follow students to the public school of their choice, including charter schools.  As the author in 1994 of the first school choice language ever to pass the House and become law, I’m proud that the Leader offered this amendment, and very pleased it was adopted by the House.  All children in America deserve the opportunity to attend the best schools possible, and giving parents and students as many options as possible through education reform is an important step in strengthening our economy and making life work for more Americans.”

NOTE: Read more about the Student Success Act here. And visit gop.gov/jobs for more information on the Republican Plan for Economic Growth & Jobs, which calls for “reforming federal education policies to empower parents with choice and equal opportunity to seek great teachers and schools,” and to “better prepare students for tomorrow’s job market.”