[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMERICA NEEDS HIGH EDUCATION STANDARDS

  (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, America needs high education standards, 
and I rise today to urge my colleagues to sign on to my resolution in 
support of educational standards of excellence.
  This simple resolution is a common-sense approach to improving 
education in this country. As a former State superintendent of my 
State's public schools, I know firsthand that setting high standards 
and equipping our students and teachers with the tools they need to 
meet those standards is the best way to assure quality education in our 
schools for all of our children. This Congress must take aggressive 
action to provide leadership that is needed to raise educational 
standards.
  Yesterday, I received a letter of support from the Council of Chief 
State School Officers, which represents the educational policy 
leadership in each of the 50 States in this country. This letter reads 
in part:

       The Council * * * is pleased to support your resolution 
     urging States to adopt challenging academic standards and 
     tests to measure student achievement.

  Later this week I will introduce my bill, and I urge my colleagues to 
join with the chief State school officers in each State in support of 
the educational standards resolution.

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