House Education Bill Includes Meehan Proposals to Protect Students from Predators, Give Flexibility to Districts

Statement

An education bill passed by the House this week includes language authored by Rep. Patrick Meehan that prevents school districts from facilitating the out-of-state transfer of employees who have abused children.

H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The legislation was approved by the House on Wednesday evening. The legislation ends the practice of interstate confidentiality agreements between schools and child sex abusers.

In 1997, 12 year old Jeremy Bell was brutally assaulted and killed by his principal. The principal had been hired by a West Virginia district that was never told that he was fired from a school in Pennsylvania over allegations of sexual misconduct. In fact, his former employer even wrote a letter recommending him.

"Seeking to avoid publicity and litigation, schools attempt to transfer problem employees to districts in other states. This legislation ends the cover-up of sexual abuse and it requires schools to comply with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. It will make our kids safer and keep predators out of our schools," Meehan said.

Similar language was included in H.R. 2083, the Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act. H.R. 2083 was passed by the House with overwhelming bipartisan support in the 113th Congress.

"I appreciate Congressman Meehan's leadership on behalf of our children," said Chairman John Kline, Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. "He provided important assistance in finding solutions to better protect our schoolchildren."

The legislation passed by the House this week also includes language authored by Meehan that gives more flexibility to local school boards. The language prohibits the Department of Education from creating burdensome regulations and reporting requirements inconsistent with the stated intent of the law. Both provisions were added as amendments to the House-passed Student Success Act in the 113th Congress and included in the underlying text of the bill passed by the House today.

"This provision keeps Washington bureaucrats out of our classrooms and gives local school districts more flexibility in making the right choices for our kids," Meehan said.

"We are pleased that lawmakers recognize the critical role local board members serve in providing all public school students with an education they deserve," stated National School Boards Association Executive Director Thomas J. Gentzel. "As ESEA undergoes modernization and reauthorization, the time is now to uphold local and community leadership of public schools as serving the best interests of our students, parents, and local communities. The provisions in the "Student Success Act' that address local governance are supportive of this priority.

"NSBA appreciates the leadership of Rep. Meehan and his colleagues to champion such provisions in the legislation," Gentzel added. "This measure underscores the role of local governance and oversight for school district administration and operations that enhance student achievement."

"The legislation approved this week is an important step in moving the reauthorization of the ESEA forward," said Meehan. "I'm hopeful that the Senate will advance its own legislation and both Houses are able to reach a bipartisan compromise on a bill we can put on the President's desk for his signature," Meehan concluded.

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