America Forward Executive Director Deborah Smolover released the following statement today on the Senate HELP Committee’s passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization:

“The America Forward Education Coalition is pleased with the Senate HELP Committee’s decision to vote a bipartisan education bill out of committee.  This bill is a critical first step in moving education reform forward.  We are grateful to Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Enzi and HELP Committee Senators who voted in favor of passage for their leadership in the effort to ensure all of our nation’s children receive a quality education.

“As nonprofit organizations who work as partners to schools in communities throughout the country to improve educational outcomes for our nation’s students, we support provisions throughout the bill that incentivize partnerships with effective nonprofit organizations.  We also support competitive funding streams that have been included like Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation and Promise Neighborhoods.  While we will continue to work to ensure these vital provisions remain in the bill as it is considered on the Senate floor, we still have hopes to improve the bill by ensuring that states have a comprehensive accountability system that is designed to close achievement gaps and move all students toward college readiness.