WASHINGTON (AP/WMOT) — Tennessee U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander scored a major legislative victory yesterday, as the Senate approved an education law re-write.
The Senate bill would roll back significant parts of the much-criticized federal No Child Left Behind regulations. Alexander has been working on the legislation for seven years.
The overhaul was approved by a 81-17 vote. The stage is now set for what could be contentious negotiations with the House over the federal government's influence over education policy.
A week ago, the House passed its own education legislation. Alexander’s Senate bill is more far reaching and would give local schools greater control over education policy.
The two chambers will have to negotiate a compromise.