In an effort to strengthen federal student privacy policy and keep student records secure, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) has introduced the Protecting Education Privacy Act (PEPA) which would enhance protections for students by rolling back regulatory changes made by the administration to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Read more »

Around the nation, parents and teachers are joining together to oppose the implementation of the top-down, “one-size-fits-all” approach to education through Common Core State Standards. Movements in states from Pennsylvania to Georgia have gained momentum and forced lawmakers to examine the value of Common Core and in some cases halt its implementation. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today voted in support of a permanent solution that would fix and lower interest rates for all newly issued student loans Read more »

In an attempt to return responsibility for student achievement to states and school districts, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today issued the following statement after successfully passing an amendment to the Student Success Act expressing concern over implementing Common Core standards in schools: Read more »

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today expressed disappointment that Senate Democrats failed to pass legislation addressing student loan rates that doubled today despite having the opportunity to consider the Smarter Solutions for Students Act passed in May by a bipartisan majority of House members that would have stopped the increase and stopped Congress from arbitrarily setting student loan rates in the future. Read more »

Over the last few weeks, we’ve all probably known a family member, friend or neighbor that has watched a child graduate from high school or college. While it is an exciting time for parents and graduates, it also comes with a whole host of new concerns, the chief among them is affording the next step in a young person’s life. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today voted in support of the Smarter Solutions for Students Act which would stop student loan interest rates from statutorily rising from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent and get Congress out of setting student loan interest rates by basing them on the free market. Read more »

Like many of you, I have been increasingly frustrated by federal agencies that are determined to circumvent the elected representatives of the American people in Congress and instead impose their will on Americans through rules and regulations. But nothing upsets me more than a federal agency that seeks to impose its will through the power of its purse strings, on our children. Read more »

Looking back on 2012, I feel grateful to again have served as your voice in Congress. It has been a year of great turmoil in Washington but it also has been one in which several issues facing the people of the 9th District were tackled head on and I am proud of what we have accomplished for a wide cross-section of folks. Read more »

Education, in its broadest sense, is the fundamental building block for human development that spreads from one generation to the next. Our teachers, who dedicate their time and talent in the classroom are best equipped, along with state and local officials, to decide the best interests of students on a daily basis. Simply put, education is best if it is left out of the hands of the federal government. Read more »