Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today secured several key amendments during the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's consideration of the Every Child Achieves Act. Bennet's amendments will help improve equity, support teachers, spur innovation, and provide for greater flexibility in our schools.

"Our kids and grandkids are depending on us to help create an education system that prepares them for success in the 21st century," Bennet said. "That's why we need to create opportunities to help teachers grow professionally, encourage more innovation to improve student achievement, and ensure all kids have the tools and resources they need to succeed. It's encouraging to see the Senate come together on these priorities."

During today's consideration of the Every Child Achieves Act, the committee adopted five amendments introduced by Bennet, including:
• A bipartisan amendment to provide funding for schools, districts, nonprofits, and small businesses to develop, implement, expand, and replicate innovation and evidence-based practices to improve student achievement and increase graduation rates and college enrollment;
• A bipartisan amendment to support opportunities for teachers to grow and take on leadership roles in their school or district while allowing them to remain in the classroom;
• An amendment to create a pilot project that would allow districts to design and implement a weighted student funding system to promote funding systems that provide resources based on student need and include additional funding for students from low-income families and English learners
• Supporting efforts to provide students with vital information about federal financial aid in order to help increase access to college;
• A bipartisan package of provisions to support rural schools by assisting rural school districts to apply for competitive federal grants, allowing rural schools to join together to apply for federal funding, and requiring states to consider the needs of rural schools when developing state education plans.

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