Today, Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced her first bill since being sworn into Congress. H.R. 6259, the Make Education Local Act of 2018, would allow individual states to submit their own education plans, known as a State Management Decision, to the Secretary of Education. After approval by the Department of Education, all federal funding programs would roll into one pot of money for the state to implement their individualized education plan.

“Our children are our future, and it is important that each child have access to high-quality education free from Washington mandates,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “Arizonans know their schools better than any bureaucrat. My bill will allow individual states to submit their own education policy plan to the Secretary of Education to free up dollars so funding will go directly to students and teachers instead of being spent to comply with federal regulators.”

“This bill is just the first step in improving and strengthening education in Arizona classrooms,” continued Congresswoman Lesko. “I will continue to work with local leaders and education advocates to do more to improve education for all of our students. We are committed to fixing our entire education system so that it works for each student.”

Following the introduction of H.R. 6259, several policy and school organizations and elected officials in Arizona, including Arizona Parents for Education, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Legacy Traditional Schools, and Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen expressed their support for this bill.

“I am heartened to see that Congresswoman Lesko’s first sponsored bill is an education bill with a provision calling for states to provide ‘a description of the plan for maintaining direct accountability to parents…’ in their State Management Decision provided to the Secretary of Education. Informed parents are empowered parents and each state must be accountable to parents when it comes to their children’s education,” said Mara Benson, President, Arizona Parents for Education.

“We appreciate Congresswoman Lesko for pursuing this important reform. Arizona has been a leader in academic gains using the best ideas from our own pool of bright minds and effective educators. Not every good idea is generated from inside the Beltway. The Congresswoman is rightly putting the focus on creating additional flexibility for states and reducing federal meddling in issues that are best managed at a state level. At the same time, she is to be applauded for maintaining a strong commitment to accountability and securing excellent outcomes. We look forward to working with her to see it reach the President’s desk,” said Glenn Hamer, President and CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“The current demands of education require a new approach to managing the federal funds that flow in to the states. Education has changed with the dramatic growth in charter schools, career and technical education, and virtual schooling; the Make Education Local Act will allow states to better meet the diverse needs of students and schools. We applaud Congresswoman Lesko for making education her top priority with the introduction of this Act as her first bill in Congress,” said Brandon Jones, CEO, Legacy Traditional Schools.

“Arizonan’s know how to better manage our education system than regulators from Washington. The Make Education Local Act allows our state to take back control and manage our dollars the best way. The reduced regulations will allow us to put more dollars into our classrooms and teachers,” said Senator Sylvia Allen, Arizona Senate Education Committee Chair.

Original cosponsors of H.R. 6259 include Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Rep. Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04), Rep. Martha McSally (AZ-02), and Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06).

Background: H.R. 6259 will put states like Arizona back in the driver seat of their education policy and reduce federal intrusion and regulation on public schools. The bill directs federal funding right to students and teachers instead of being spent to comply with federal regulations. It will also require each state to focus on student achievement and outcomes, while letting the states figure out how to do that best and how to spend those dollars. Specifically, this bill:

• Allows states to submit a State Management Decision to the Secretary of Education that is valid for between 5 and 10 years.
  
  
• A State Management Decision allows a state to be waived from all provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act and allows for that state to consolidate all federal education dollars into one single grant.
  
  
• Protects the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act dollars from being consolidated and provisions of the law from being waived.
  
  
• Increases transparency by requiring a state in their State Management Decision to outline their plan for using the dollars and how they will inform parents of student achievement.
  
  
• Ensures accountability by requiring participating states to publish a yearly report of student performance and a description of how the state used federal funds to improve academic achievement and a yearly report with information for the public regarding other high-quality school options and choices.
  
  
• Gives states the flexibility to financially account and consolidate federal education dollars in any way they choose.