Federal Policy

Federal Policy

ESEA Update

February 29, 2012

New Action in the House of Representatives

On February 9, Representative John Kline, Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, introduced the the Student Success Act (HR3989) and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act (HR3990) . The definition of professional development in the “Student Success Act” includes activities that “ . . . advance teacher understanding of instructional strategies that are (I) evidence-based, (II) strategies for improving student academic achievement or substantially increasing the knowledge and teaching skills of teachers, including through addressing the social and emotional development needs of students . . ..”

The committee held a hearing on the bill on February 16. Mark-up of the bill, which would reauthorize portions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), was completed on February 28, and the bill passed out of committee on a partisan vote. Although Chairman Kline has urged House leaders to take up the bill soon, currently no floor action is scheduled.

No change in status of Senate’s ESEA Reauthorization Draft

In October 2011, the Senate HELP Committee passed draft legislation to reauthorize ESEA. We previously reported that the draft bill includes:

  • Title IV- Successful, Safe and Healthy Students “to foster positive conditions for learning in public schools, in order to increase academic achievement for all students.” Further, Part C—Section 4302(a) identifies key activities and lists “develop social and emotional competencies.”
  • Title IX – General Provisions includes in the definition of (10) Conditions for Learning as “conditions that advance student achievement and advance positive child and youth development by supporting schools that promote physical, mental, and emotional health and also promote social, emotional, and character development, including “help staff and students to model positive social and emotional skills.”

Next Steps

Although the future of each of these bills is unclear, the inclusion of social and emotional learning in the draft bills in the House and Senate creates a strong foundation for SEL advocates as the process moves toward the passage of a final bill.