[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 17 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 24, 1994]



                IMPROVING AMERICA'S SCHOOLS ACT OF 1994

  (Mr. WISE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, like many other Members of Congress, my phones 
have been ringing off the hook the last few days with those concerned 
about H.R. 6, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and 
particularly those concerned about the provisions dealing with home 
schooling and the ability to teach at home, as well as those who send 
their children to be educated in private schools.
  I am happy to report that the committee has worked and will be 
offering language that will eliminate those concerns so that those who 
teach at home and those who send their children to private schools need 
to be assured that nothing is going to happen that affects their 
ability to do this.
  Additionally, the committee will remove the language that deals with 
certification. That caused an additional problem in many States 
because, as in my State where we have almost 500 teachers teaching on 
special permits, but they are not certified, this could cause problems 
in our school system. But I do think it ought to be pointed out that 
while the committees and the Congress is going to make sure that home 
schooling remains intact, that private education remains intact, if all 
of this controversy has caused us to focus further on the needs of 
education, then all of us, whether involved in the public's education 
system, the private education system, or the home education system has 
gained from this, and we can focus further on the needs of our 
children.

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