Mark Pocan: “I would like to thank the gentleman not only for yielding, but for his and Chairman Kline's hard work on this bill. I…”

“I would like to thank the gentleman not only for yielding, but for his and Chairman Kline's hard work on this bill. I rise today in support of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Defending public education is one of the reasons that I came to Congress. For years, we have witnessed a negative impact on public education, from underfunding our schools to stripping teachers of their rights to collectively bargain for fair pay and conditions, like in my home State of Wisconsin. {time} 1515 At the same time, punitive policies which limit teachers' and administrators' abilities to manage their classrooms have further hampered student achievement. It is past time we renew the promise of an ESEA which has students' best interests at heart. I meet with teachers and administrators from Wisconsin's Second Congressional District regularly and was stunned when I was told that one-third of a school's staff turned over last year because schools lack the financial support and autonomy they need to give students the educational experience they deserve. Teachers are being asked to do more with less, and it is coming at the expense of our kids' education. While this bill is not perfect, I am pleased that we are finally discussing a bill today that aims to put students first and trusts our teachers, who dedicate their careers to education.…”