[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. COCHRAN:
  S. 514. A bill to improve the National Writing Project; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


        legislation to reauthorize the national writing project

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today, I am introducing legislation to 
reauthorize the National Writing Project, the only Federal program to 
improve the teaching of writing in America's classrooms.
  Literacy is at the foundation of school and workspace success, of 
citizenship in a democracy, and of learning in all disciplines. The 
National Writing Project has been instrumental in helping teachers 
develop better teaching skills so they can help our children improve 
their ability to read, write, and think.
  As the United States continues to face a crisis in wiring in school 
heightened by the growing number of at-risk students due to limited 
English proficiency and the shortage of adequately trained teachers, 
continued Federal support for a program that works such as the National 
Writing Project is imperative.
  The National Writing Project is a national network of university-
based teacher training programs designed to improve the teaching of 
writing and student achievement in writing.
  Through its professional development model, the National Writing 
Project recognizes the primary importance of teacher knowledge, 
expertise, and leadership. The National Writing Project operates on a 
teachers-teaching teachers model. Successful writing teachers attend 
Invitational Summer Institutes at their local universities. During the 
school year these teachers provide workshops for other teachers in the 
schools.
  Teachers of all subjects benefit from the training, and the success 
of students who are taught by Writing Project teachers is evident: they 
score better not just on writing examinations, but in reading, 
mathematics, and in other subjects.
  Since 1973, the National Writing Project has served over 1.8 million 
teaches and administrators. Each year over 150,000 participants benefit 
from the National Writing Project programs in 1 of 156 United States 
sites located in 46 States and Puerto Rico. The National Writing 
Project generates $6.47 for every Federal dollar.
  I am pleased, that for the first time since the National Writing 
Project was authorized for federal funding in 1991, the President has 
requested funds to expand the National Writing Project in his budget 
for Fiscal Year 2000.
  This program has proven to be one of the most effective in education 
today. I am proud to be associated with it, and I compliment those who 
have made it so successful across the nation.
  When I first introduced this bill in 1990, it was cosponsored by 40 
Senators, both Republicans and Democrats. I hope it will receive equal 
or greater support in the 106th Congress. I invite other Senators to 
join me in sponsoring this legislation.
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