Rep. Terri Sewell issued the following statement after voting for passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that replaces the current, outdated No Child Left Behind Act.

“Tonight, I voted in favor of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaces the outdated No Child Left Behind Act. While this bill is not perfect, its passage represents great progress for students, teachers, and communities in the 7^th Congressional District of Alabama and across the nation.

“As the daughter of two long-time educators and the proud product of Selma public schools, my commitment to public education is profoundly personal. The journey I now take as Alabama's first black Congresswoman is a testament to the power of public education.

“As we celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of passage of the landmark Elementary and Secondary Education Act, I am pleased this reauthorization ensures that funds will continue to be directed to the school districts and communities that most need them. The bill reduces the amount of standardized testing in schools and empowers educators to have a stronger voice in classroom decisions. The Every Student Succeeds Act is a promising improvement over current law as this bill protects the millions of minority, disabled, and disadvantaged students we were sent here to represent.

“This bill is worthy of President Obama’s signature, and I look forward to seeing what is in store for our nation’s schools and students under this bill. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that our federal dollars are being spent on high-quality education for all students, regardless of race, socio-economic status or zip code.”