Senator Mamie E. Locke (D-Hampton)Chair, Virginia Legislative Black Caucus

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is a significant piece of civil rights legislation whose core principle is to ensure educational equity and excellence. Also at its core is accountability; that is, that individuals and agencies responsible for providing a quality and excellent education to our children will do so on an equal basis, not just to a privileged or wealthy few. Despite the many efforts to close the achievement gap in education since this legislation was passed fifty years ago, there remains much work to be done.

Before the United States Senate is the Every Child Achieves Act which reauthorizes ESEA. This legislation is in need of amendments being offered by the Tri-Caucus to ensure critical protections for non-wealthy, minority, English learner and students with disabilities. A new ESEA must prepare all students in every school across Virginia for postsecondary success. Federal law must be unequivocal: the academic needs of all students matter and states must take action when achievement gaps are present. The key phrase here is must take action. We cannot pretend that gaps and disparities do not exist. What we are asking is, what credible plan will the state develop for accountability purposes to ensure that all students in all school districts across the state will receive equity and excellence in our public school system?

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus stands with civil rights and legislative leaders in calling on Senators Kaine and Warner to support amendments that will ensure that the lowest performing schools and schools that consistently miss state set goals (not federally mandated goals) for subgroups are documented for district designed interventions and programs targeted for student needs. The bottom line is all children deserve a quality education. The key to that quality education is a stronger, balanced ESEA that preserves equity, excellence and accountability.