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Lamar Alexander

Read our coverage of the fifth U.S. Secretary of Education, who served from 1999 to 1993

Explainer

Lamar Alexander, Fifth U.S. Education Secretary: Biography and Achievements
Background and highlights of Lamar Alexander's tenure as the fifth U.S. Secretary of Education.
Education Opinion Lamar Alexander's Lesson in Education Leadership
See a few urgent needs and develop a strategy to meet each of them. Then stick with it until at least half the people agree that it's right. That's been the senator's philosophy.
Rick Hess, November 12, 2020
2 min read
Federal Sen. Lamar Alexander Estimates K-12, Higher Ed. Need $50 Billion to $75 Billion to Reopen Safely
The Tennessee Republican and chairman of the Senate education committee, said he considers it crucial for K-12 schools "that they have the money that they need to open safely in the fall" to help parents and the economy.
Andrew Ujifusa, June 24, 2020
3 min read
Education Opinion Sen. Lamar Alexander on the Congressional Response to Coronavirus
"A one-hour flight to Washington doesn't make you any smarter, and I don't think we need to come up with a bunch of big ideas up here and send them back to states to implement—especially in education," says Alexander.
Rick Hess, May 11, 2020
7 min read
Federal Lamar Alexander, Impeachment, and the Politics of ESSA
The approach Sen. Lamar Alexander took to President Donald Trump's impeachment trial might be rooted in the same philosophy he applied to a key element of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 31, 2020
5 min read
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, speaks with reporters on Jan. 24, 2018 at the Capitol in Washington.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, speaks with reporters on Jan. 24, 2018 at the Capitol in Washington.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Federal Sen. Lamar Alexander, Top Capitol Hill Republican on Education, to Retire
The chairman of the Senate education committee, a former education secretary and a main architect of the Every Student Succeeds Act, announced he will not run for re-election in 2020.
Alyson Klein & Andrew Ujifusa, December 17, 2018
7 min read
Federal Sen. Lamar Alexander, Capitol Hill's Top Republican on Education, Won't Run in 2020
In addition to serving as the chairman of the Senate education committee, Alexander previously served as secretary of education under President George H.W. Bush, as well as governor of Tennessee. He was a chief architect of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Alyson Klein & Andrew Ujifusa, December 17, 2018
1 min read
Federal Top U.S. Senators for Education Pitch Youth Prevention to Fight Opioid Epidemic
A new blueprint for fighting opioid addiction from Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., would focus on youth prevention and recovery, and create a new task force to help children cope with trauma related to opioids.
Andrew Ujifusa, April 5, 2018
2 min read
Federal Arming Teachers Not a Great Idea, Says Top Republican Senator for Education
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate education committee, told the Associated Press he is "not a big fan" of giving teachers firearms to protect their schools.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 27, 2018
1 min read
Federal Sen. Lamar Alexander Backs Changes to ESSA to Improve School Safety
The chairman of the Senate education committee said he would introduce legislation to allow schools to hire more counselors, improve infrastructure, and fund violence-prevention programs.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 6, 2018
2 min read
Federal If Senate Starts Over on Health Care, K-12 Could Dip Lower on Priority List
Should the overhaul effort catch fire once again, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., could play a key role in the process, competing for his committee's attention.
Andrew Ujifusa, July 28, 2017
2 min read
Federal Updated Higher Education Law Could Impact Data, Access for K-12 69´«Ã½
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the Senate education committee chairman, told us recently that reauthorizing the law will be his committee's "major focus" over the next year.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 8, 2017
2 min read
Federal Sen. Alexander Praises Betsy DeVos After Meeting, Expects Quick Confirmation
Alexander praised the nominee one day after the Senate education committee delayed DeVos' confirmation hearing by six days.
Andrew Ujifusa, January 10, 2017
1 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act Assume You Can Do What You Like Under ESSA, Sen. Alexander Tells Ky. Lawmakers
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., had this message in an appearance before Kentucky legislators: Assume you can do as you please under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Andrew Ujifusa, September 12, 2016
2 min read
Federal Sen. Lamar Alexander at the RNC: On Trump, Clinton, and ESSA
The head of the Senate education committee, who is attending the Republican National Convention, says he thinks that Donald Trump would champion local control of schools and fewer regulations.
Alyson Klein, July 18, 2016
5 min read