Student Success Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment, and I rise to support strong, conservative legislation that provides equal opportunity and education for everyone in this country, no matter their walk of life, how much money they may have, or what challenges they face. The Student Success Act improves, strengthens, and modernizes our classrooms to give all of our students the opportunity to reach their full potential.

As the mom of a 7-year-old son, Cole, who has special needs, I know firsthand that everyone has different needs in the classroom. Every student's path to learning is both unique and equally important. So I am proud to advance legislation that recognizes that.

It all starts by innovating and empowering America's students. That is why I have championed the 21st Century Classroom Innovation Act, included in today's legislation, and together we will ensure that that technology will be fully incorporated into our classrooms to enhance personalized learning for our students. By blending traditional learning programs with high tech tools, we will take our classrooms and our students to the 21st century.

But the foundation of real, educational reform goes beyond technological advancements and begins with an unequivocal recognition that our students may have different needs, but they should all have an equal opportunity--an equal opportunity to learn, an equal opportunity to graduate, and an equal opportunity for a diploma.

That is why I have championed several important provisions in the Student Success Act that address these needs.

First, when a State establishes guidelines for individualized alternative testing, they will do so on a subject-by-subject basis. Parents must be clearly informed when they move their children in alternative testing, so they will fully understand the implications of making those decisions for their kids.

Right now, far too many parents with children with disabilities aren't told when their kids are moved into alternative testing. This legislation changes that.

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Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. It ensures that students with disabilities who have taken alternative assessments cannot be prevented from receiving a regular diploma.

These provisions will enhance data transparency, improve communication between parents and teachers, and give everyone an equal opportunity to receive a diploma. It ensures that when my son Cole and millions like him walk into a classroom, they will be defined by their abilities, not their disabilities.

At its very core, this legislation changes the way we think about and educate those with disabilities. That is how we achieve real 21st century education reform.

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