Why was the No Child Left Behind reauthorization abandoned in the House?

House Republicans scuttled a vote to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal education policy on Friday. Supporters say the delay is temporary and blamed the Department of Homeland Security funding crisis for distracting lawmakers’ attention. But opponents say the bill lacked enough support to pass, uniting Democrats and conservatives in an effort to kill it.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., who sponsored the Student Success Act, said it would improve education by “reducing the federal footprint, restoring local control, and empowering parents and education leaders.”

According to the bill summary, the act would replace more than 70 federal funding programs with the Local Academic Flexible Grant, so states and districts would have “the flexibility to support initiatives based on their local needs.” It also would allow states and districts to make their own teacher evaluation and accountability systems, and it includes measures limiting the secretary of education’s power.

Organizations such as the American Association of Christian Schools and the Family Research Council wrote letters in support of the Student Success Act, but some conservatives say the bill does not go far enough in limiting the federal role in education. Heritage Action for America, a sister organization to The Heritage Foundation, issued an “Action Alert” on Thursday calling for people to contact their representatives and fight against the NCLB reauthorization.

Heritage Action issued a brief outlining its concerns, including the bill’s failure to change the NCLB mandate for annual reading and math testing in grades 3-8 and once in high school.

Some lawmakers agreed the act failed to go far enough in returning local control over education to the states. In a Friday letter posted on his website, Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., announced his intention to vote against it: “I’m convinced it doesn’t do enough to allow the states to take the lead on education standards. I firmly believe that each state should have the power to opt out of federal education programs and mandates while still being able to keep their federal funding.”

Early last week, the Department of Education also spoke out against the House bill.

“At exactly the time we should be expanding opportunity for America’s students and helping schools recover from the recession, this bill would allow unconscionable funding cuts,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement.

The Obama administration also fears the bill will redirect money away from poorer districts, and the Office of Management and Budget issued a statement last week warning the president’s “senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.”

Kline tied Friday’s failed vote to prioritizing funding for the Department of Homeland Security. “I am disappointed we are unable to complete consideration of the Student Success Actthis week, but national security must always come first,” he said in a statement. He also said, “I expect we will have an opportunity to finish this important work soon.”

But others cited the bill’s lack of support as a contributing factor. “Great news: Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind … has been pulled from consideration. Your calls, emails, messages, and tweets made a difference!” Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., posted on Facebook.

Meanwhile, the Senate also is working to fix No Child Left Behind.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said in a Friday statement. But she concluded, “I am hopeful that we can deliver results.”