[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
IN SUPPORT OF FINAL PASSAGE OF THE IMPROVING AMERICA'S SCHOOLS ACT--THE 
 REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I commend the Senate's recent passage of 
the Improving America's Schools Act of 1993, the eighth reauthorization 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Established as 
part of President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty, the original bill 
offered Federal support, for the first time, to schools in low-income 
communities. It underscored the importance of ensuring that all 
American children have access to quality education.
  By supporting local educational initiatives, the bill we have passed 
continues to fulfill the Federal Government's responsibility to our 
nation's young people. School districts across the country differ in 
many ways, and it would be impossible to develop a single Federal 
policy that meets each community's needs. This bill gives states the 
flexibility to develop specific educational programs because local 
educators and parents are in the best position to decide how to best 
serve their community.
  There are a number of provisions I want to highlight. Contained in 
this bill is the Chapter 1 Program--the Federal Government's largest 
elementary and secondary education program. While the Federal 
Government contributes only 6 percent of the total funds used in 
education, nearly two-thirds of all money spent on basic skills 
instruction for children from disadvantaged families comes from the 
Chapter 1 Program.
  Unfortunately, this valuable program reaches just 40 percent of 
eligible students. Given limited resources, I support the revised 
formula for distributing chapter 1 funds contained in this legislation. 
It attempts to focus additional resources on areas with higher 
concentrations of poor children while still meeting the needs of school 
districts that depend on this critical Federal assistance.
  Additionally, this provision--for the first time--requires that the 
disadvantaged students targeted by the Chapter 1 Program be held to the 
same high academic standards as all students. States which apply for 
chapter 1 funds will develop content and performance standards to 
describe clearly what children should know and how successful students 
have been in meeting these expectations. Consistent with the recently-
enacted Goals 2000 legislation, these standards will help to make 
certain that all American students will have the skills and knowledge 
necessary to succeed.
  Among the new programs included in this reauthorization is the 
Transition-to-Success Program. This program is created to assist low-
income children in their transition from Head Start to elementary 
school. The program appropriately continues the assistance children and 
their families received from the Head Start Program through grade 
school to help these young students strive to meet challenging academic 
standards. Since 1965, 13 million children have been served by the Head 
Start Program. It makes sense to ensure that the investment made in 
early childhood is not lost once these children reach elementary 
school.
  There are also new measures designed to address the specific needs of 
both rural and urban school districts. Under title XVI, school 
districts will become eligible for grants to assist them in meeting the 
national educational goals.
  This bill appropriately emphasizes high standards for teachers as 
well as for students. Title II focuses on improving teaching and 
learning, because better teachers make better students. Investing in 
professional development is a cost-effective way to guarantee that the 
standards set forth in this bill and the Goals 2000 Act will be 
realized.
  To help students and teachers reach these goals, this measure also 
emphasizes the more effective use of technology in education. This 
investment is crucial in helping American students excel in today's 
high tech world. We must not underestimate the value of having the 
technological capability to quickly access vast quantities of 
information, thereby increasing knowledge.
  Today, even more than in President Johnson's day, success in the 
workplace depends on success in the classroom. One of the most 
important challenges facing our Nation is to better prepare the next 
generation of Americans to compete and thrive in the rapidly-changing 
global economy.
  Few issues so directly affect the Nation's future as does education. 
The programs in the Improving America's Schools Act provide the 
necessary mechanisms to help local school districts achieve the 
standards set forth in Goals 2000. By ensuring that every American has 
the knowledge and skills needed to succeed, we are ensuring the future 
success of America.

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