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Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) issued the following statement after the House by a vote of 218 to 213 passed H.R. 5, the Student Success Act

To my great disappointment, the U.S. House of Representatives today narrowly passed H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, to reauthorize elementary and secondary education legislation formerly known as No Child Left Behind. Either name is an oxymoron, however, because this bill does not offer solutions to the educational crises taking place in the nation's low-income and low-achieving school districts.

Throughout long months of debate, I introduced and co-sponsored amendments that would keep parents apprised of mandated assessments; support dropout prevention and reentry programs; fund initiatives to ensure that minorities and low-income students are engaged in rigorous STEM academic programs; and support "intensive care" reading labs and boost language arts, mathematics and science skills for children in grades 1-3.

Instead we have a bill that guts funding for schools that are already hanging on by a shoestring, will now have access to even fewer resources. It eliminates standards that would require schools or districts to lend a helping hand to struggling students so that they can achieve at grade level and graduate from high school, which will add to the growing number of students who fail to earn a diploma that has already reached more than 500,000.

It is a statistical fact that high school dropouts earn on average $630,000 less than high school graduates, depriving our economy of $300 billion in worker income each year. Higher dropout rates in minority, low-income and immigrant communities also contribute to income inequality and health disparities.

As a longtime former educator and school board member who is still deeply involved in the academic success of my youngest constituents, I also oppose measures in H.R. 5 that fail to support educators. The legislation eliminates requirements for them to enhance and expand their professional development and shifts funding for the few programs left that do support teachers away from the poorest schools.

In many disadvantage communities, the teacher or the school principal often is the most influential person in the life of a young child whose parents have to focus on challenges faced by too many families, like keeping food on the table or a roof over their heads.

Educators play a critical role in shaping young lives and minds and futures. If H.R. 5 becomes law, the future of our students and our nation will be less bright.

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.