USCCB Catholic Education Chairman Welcomes Agreement Toward Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind

 BALTIMORE—The chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Catholic Education, Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha, Nebraska, welcomed the recent bipartisan agreement on a way forward for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, November 16. The agreement was reached by House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), along with Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA).

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind Law, is the federal program that provides federal funds and programs to local and state education agencies for elementary and secondary education programs. The program has not been updated and reauthorized since 2001.

"This is good news and a hopeful sign that our political leaders can come together and put the needs of parents and children first," Archbishop Lucas said. "The members of Congress, in this agreement, demonstrate that there is broad bipartisan agreement on the need to replace the No Child Left Behind Law and improve our nation's schools."

The U.S. Congress is expected to vote to move to a conference between the Senate and House on the next steps for replacing the No Child Left Behind law in the coming days.
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Keywords: USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop George J. Lucas, Omaha, No Child Left Behind, reauthorization
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