Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The legislation replaces the outdated No Child Left Behind and ensures children across the country have access to a quality education and important resources and opportunities that will prepare them for college and career. The bill was passed by a bipartisan vote of 359-64 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

"As someone who grew up in poverty, I know firsthand how important education is for kids to get ahead in life. With the passage of this legislation, our nation's schools finally have the meaningful reform that students and teachers have long needed. The Every Student Succeeds Act ensures that all students graduate from high school with college and career-ready skills by investing in our children's education and our country's future economic growth. I am proud that many of my priorities have been included in this bipartisan, compromise legislation."

As a former member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Loebsack worked to ensure his proposals were included in this bipartisan compromise. Loebsack's Schools of the Future Act, which provides resources to rural schools for improving their education technology programs, was included in the House version of the bill as an amendment that was passed on a bipartisan vote. Loebsack's amendment paved the way for the creation of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant program, a new $1.6 billion dedicated funding stream, up to 60 percent of which can be used by districts to support the effective use of technology in schools. This new fund will be distributed based on need, with a large proportion flowing to rural schools, and can be used to:

·       Provide educators, school leaders and administrators with the professional learning tools, content and resources to provide high quality digital learning;

·       Provide students in rural, remote, and underserved areas with the resources to take advantage of high-quality digital learning experiences, digital resources, and access to online courses taught by effective educators;

·       Build technological capacity and infrastructure;

·       Develop or use innovated or effective strategies for the delivery of curricula through technology;

·       Carry out blended learning projects; and

·       Provide professional development for educators in the use of technology to increase student achievement.

The Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant program also supports two of Loebsack's other priorities, including:

·       Improving mental health supports and services in our schools. Funding from this grant can be used to hire more mental health personnel including counselors, school psychologists, social workers and other instructional support personnel, a priority Loebsack advanced in his Reducing Barriers to Learning Act.

·       Supporting community involvement by encouraging schools to partner with public, private, nonprofit and community-based entities to address nonacademic factors affecting student academic performance, which mirrors Loebsack's Working to Encourage Community Action and Responsibility in Education (WE CARE) Act.

WHITEWATER, WI (11/19/2015)-- The No. 6 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team begins its quest for a third consecutive national championship this Saturday, Nov. 21, at 12 p.m. at Perkins Stadium against St. Norbert.

The Warhawks (9-1 overall), who are ranked sixth by D3football.com and eighth by the American Football Coaches Association, will make their 10th postseason appearance in the last 11 years. The team earned one of six at-large, or Pool C, bids to the national tournament.

UW-Whitewater has won the Stagg Bowl national championship game in six of the last eight years. The program is making its 13th appearance in the NCAA Playoffs all time.

St. Norbert (10-0) earned an automatic bid after winning the Midwest Conference title. The Green Knights are making their 12th appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs, including their 11th over the last 17 years.

The two teams last faced each other in the first round of the 2013 Playoffs. The Warhawks posted a 31-7 victory at Perkins Stadium.

The winner of Saturday's contest will take on the winner of Lakeland and No. 5 Wheaton (Ill.) in the second round on Saturday, Nov. 28. Game time and location will be announced Nov. 22.

The following student-athletes from your coverage area are members of the UW-Whitewater football team:

Vince Klim of Bettendorf (52722), majoring in Entrepreneurship.

Elliot Klim of Bettendorf (52722), majoring in Finance.

For more than 140 years, UW-Whitewater has provided students with the education and training to begin their careers with a solid foundation behind them. The UW-Whitewater is committed to the development of the individual, the growth of personal and professional integrity and respect for diversity and global perspectives. These are met by providing academic and co-curricular programs that emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and a commitment to service within a safe and secure environment.

MOUNT VERNON, IA (11/17/2015)-- Dozens of Cornell College students participated in the combined Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble concert on Friday, Nov. 13.

The concert featured works by Kenneth Alford, Elliot Del Borgo, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Randy Newman and Paul Clark.

Andrew Klocke of Coal Valley (61240) performed as a member of the Symphonic Band.

Anthony Clifton of Bettendorf (52722) performed as a member of the Symphonic Band.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time curriculum. The One Course schedule provides students the chance to dive into their studies, focus more intensely on the disciplines of their choice, and learn authentically with the unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship--all without missing out on other classes.

Cornell is nationally recognized for its value, including by Kiplinger's, which included Cornell on its list of the 100 best values in private colleges for 2015, and the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which named Cornell College one of the 24 "Best Buys" among private colleges. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years. In 2013 Cornell was named one of the 25 colleges with the best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.