House Bill Number: H.R. 2955
Date of Introduction: July 10, 2007
Sponsor(s): Scott (D-VA)
Co-Sponsor(s): Brown (D-FL), Carson (D-IN), Clarke (D-NY), Conyers (D-MI), Cummings (D-MD), Davis (D-IL), Ellison (D-MN), Emanuel (D-IL), Fattah (D-PA), Green (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), Hare (D-IL), Hinojosa (D-TX), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Jefferson (D-LA), Kilpatrick (D-MI), Lee (D-CA), Payne (D-NJ), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Scott (D-GA), Thompson (D-MS), Towns (D-NY)

The Every Student Counts Act, H.R. 2955, seeks to hold high schools responsible for graduating students by improving the calculation of and accountability for high school graduation rates. Specifically, the legislation requires states, schools, and districts to use a common, accurate, graduation rate calculation. It would also require high schools with graduation rates less than 90 percent to make aggressive but attainable increases in their graduation rates as part of the annual accountability requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act. To ensure that schools are held accountable for the graduation of all students, this requirement applies to both the overall graduation rate and the graduation rate of each subgroup of students.

About the Every Student Counts Act:

• To learn more about the House version of the Every Student Counts Act, read the one page overview of the bill.

From the sponsor of the Every Student Counts Act:

• Congressman Bobby Scott's floor statement and press release.

Support for the Every Student Counts Act: Since being introduced on July 10, 2007, in the House, the Every Student Counts Act has garnered support from members of the education community.

• The Alliance for Excellent Education, Center for the Social Organization of Schools, Easter Seals, Jobs for the Future, National Alliance of Black School Educators, National Center for Learning Disabilities, and National Council of La Raza released this joint statement in support of the bill’s introduction.