LULAC Joins 45 Other Civil Groups in Calling Senate to Reject the Congressional Review Act

March 9, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Senate is scheduled to vote on S.J. Res 25 and H.J. Res 57, which would block the implementation of important civil rights regulations meant to ensure that school districts abide by accountability and equity provisions in the newly passed Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). LULAC joined 45 other civil rights groups urging the U.S. Senate to oppose the legislation.

"The Every Student Succeeds Act included several important legislative provisions to ensure that states meet their obligations to underserved students and are held accountable for their educational success," said LULAC National President Roger C. Rocha, Jr. "The Department of Education has issued critical guidance aimed at providing school districts with parameters and clear instruction on everything from accountability to deadlines for the submission of state plans. We urge the Senate to oppose these resolutions and safeguard the accountability standards that help our students succeed."

In 2016, the Department of Education issued a final rule intended to provide guidance to school districts on important provisions included in the Every Student Succeeds Act. The draft rule was released only after public meetings were held and over 21,000 comments were received and reviewed in a systemic process aimed at being transparent, thorough, and open to both supporters of strong oversight and those who oppose it. By invoking the Congressional Review Act to block the implementation of the Department of Education's final rule on ESSA, Congress would be arbitrarily undermining the work of thousands of people who participated in the process.

"The final rule was a compromise between those who believe the federal government plays a strong role in accountability and oversight and those who are pushing for lax oversight in the name of flexibility,” said Rocha. “Congress must reject efforts to overturn these regulations and preserve the safeguards and protections developed by the Department of Education aimed at protecting the interests of underserved students."

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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.lulac.org.