Local Control of Education Act

To prohibit the Federal Government from mandating, incentivizing, or coercing States to adopt the Common Core State Standards or any other specific academic standards, instructional content, curricula, assessments, or programs of instruction. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Local Control of Education Act 2. General ESEA prohibition (a) In general Section 9527 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7907 (e) Prohibition of Federal government mandating common standards, programs of instruction, curricula, assessments, or academic standards An officer or employee of the Federal Government shall not directly or indirectly, through grants, contracts, or other cooperative agreements under this Act (including waivers under section 9401)— (1) mandate, direct, or control a State, local educational agency, or school's specific instructional content or any specific academic standard, assessment, curriculum, or program of instruction, including through any requirement, direction, condition, or mandate to adopt— (A) the Common Core State Standards developed under the Common Core State Standards Initiative, any other academic standards common to a number of States, or any specific statewide or nationally recognized content standards; or (B) any assessment, instructional content, or curriculum aligned to, or based on, specific academic standards, including any of the standards described in subparagraph (A); (2) incentivize a State, local educational agency, or school to adopt any specific instructional content, academic standard, assessment, curriculum, commonality of standards or assessments, or program of instruction described in paragraph (1), which shall include providing any priority, preference, or special consideration during the application process based on any specific content, standard, assessment, curriculum, commonality, or program; or (3) make financial support available in a manner that is conditioned upon a State, local educational agency, or school's adoption of any specific instructional content, academic standard, assessment, curriculum, commonality of standards or assessments, or program of instruction described in paragraph (1), even if such requirements are specified in section 14006 or 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ( Public Law 111–5 . (b) Conforming amendment Section 9527(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7907(a) curriculum, program of instruction, or 3. Prohibition on requiring adoption of common standards with respect to waivers (a) Prohibition Section 9401 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7861 (h) Prohibition on requiring certain standards for waivers (1) In general The Secretary shall not require that a State, local educational agency, Indian tribe, or school adopt, as a prerequisite or condition for any waiver under this section, any specific instructional content, academic standard, assessment, curriculum, or program of instruction, including— (A) the Common Core State Standards developed under the Common Core State Standards Initiative, any other academic standards common to a number of States, or any specific statewide or nationally recognized content standards; or (B) any assessment, instructional content, or curriculum aligned to, or based on, any specific academic standards, including any of the standards described in subparagraph (A). (2) Effect on previously issued waivers (A) In general Any requirement described in paragraph (1) that was required for a waiver provided to a State, local educational agency, Indian tribe, or school under this section before the date of enactment of the Local Control of Education Act (B) Prohibited actions The Secretary shall not— (i) enforce any requirement that is void pursuant to subparagraph (A); and (ii) require the State, local educational agency, Indian tribe, or school to reapply for a waiver, or to agree to any other conditions to replace any requirements that is void pursuant to subparagraph (A), until the end of the period of time specified under the waiver. (C) No effect on other provisions Any other provisions or requirements of a waiver provided under this section before the date of enactment of the Local Control of Education Act . 4. Prohibition in Race to the Top Funding Title XIV of Division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ( Public Law 111–5 14007A. Prohibition on requiring or preferring common standards The prohibitions of section 9527(e) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 shall apply to each grant awarded under section 14006 or 14007 in the same manner as such prohibitions apply to a grant awarded under such Act. .

Summary: Local Control of Education Act Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to prohibit the federal government from directly or indirectly mandating, directing, controlling, incentivizing, or conditioning federal support on a state's, local educational agency's (LEA's), or school's adoption of: the Common Core State Standards, any other academic standards common to a number of states, or any statewide or nationally recognized content standards; or any assessment, instructional content, or curriculum aligned to, or based on, specific academic standards. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to make those prohibitions applicable to grants awarded under the Race to the Top program for innovations and reforms in elementary and secondary education. Prohibits the Secretary of Education from conditioning the provision of a statutory or regulatory waiver under the ESEA on a state, LEA, Indian tribe, or school adopting any specific instructional content, academic standard, assessment, curriculum, or program of instruction. Makes that prohibition applicable to future and previously issued waivers.