Dupage Policy Journal

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) indicated Wednesday that he supports passage of the Student Success Act.

The legislation gives state and local officials the ability to set school curriculum and measure academic success through reforms to the No Child Left Behind Act.

“Every child deserves a good education, but well-intentioned efforts like No Child Left Behind have fallen short of delivering quality education," Hultgren said. "Further, through mandates like the Common Core Standards, the Department of Education has forced parents and educators to follow unflinchingly rigid standards, while also restricting students learning to standardized tests. Our students are best educated by curriculum developed by the state and our communities, involving parents and students in the process. Teachers and parents in Illinois and across the country should have the ability to choose which standards and curriculum are right for their students, and how best to measure their progress."

Hultgren said the bill may not contain all of the provisions he believes are necessary to return full responsibility back to parents and educators, but the legislation is a step forward in reversing the Department of Education's overreach.