Costello at Pottsgrove Urges Students to Get Involved

Congressman Ryan Costello speaking to a social studies
class at Pottsgrove High School.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the office of U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello prior to the election.

Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., visited Pottsgrove High School recently to meet with students, teachers, and administrators as part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ Principal for a Day program and in recognition of National Principals Month.

Costello visited the Social Studies and Civics classes at Pottsgrove High School to share with students his experience as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a township supervisor, and a county commissioner.

He urged students to get involved in their local government and also suggested they seek information that challenges their worldview.

Rep. Costello ended his school day on “bus duty” with Pottsgrove High School Principal William Ziegler, who was named Pennsylvania Principal of the Year and visited Rep. Costello in his Washington, D.C. office earlier this year.

“The teachers and principals in our community are hardworking and committed to our children’s success,” said Costello. “I really enjoyed meeting with so many knowledgeable students and learning about the impressive projects they are working on.”

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Costello has worked hard on enacting meaningful education reform –an area where he believes bipartisan solutions should be the focus:

• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which is now law, was the first major reauthorization of federal elementary and secondary education programs since 2001. This law got rid of the harmful federal involvement in our schools.
• Costello voted to allow states to withdraw from one-size-fits-all Common Core standards because it failed to raise achievements and took decision-making out of the hands of parents and local educators.
• Rep. Costello sponsored an amendment that would allow states and school districts to use federal resources to audit existing assessment systems and get rid of duplicative tests. This was signed into law as part of the ESSA.
• Rep. Costello also helped to introduce a bipartisan resolution expressing support for a “whole child” and personalized approach to education – encouraging the opportunity to learn in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe, and with access to opportunities to learn and practice an active, healthy lifestyle.