[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E680-E681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO EXTEND AND IMPROVE THE NATIONAL WRITING 
                                PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE G. MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 1999

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to 
join my colleague Congressman Wicker in introducing legislation to 
extend and improve the National Writing Project.
  The knowledge and skill of a child's teacher is the single most 
important factor in the quality of his or her education. The National 
Writing Project is a nationwide program that works to improve student 
writing abilities by improving the teaching of writing in the nation's 
schools.
  The National Writing Project serves a remarkable number of teachers 
and students on an exceptionally small budget.
  In academic year 1997-98, the National Writing Project trained 
181,402 teachers and administrators nationwide through 157 writing 
project sites in 46 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. It has 
served two million teachers and administrators over the last 25 years.
  For every federal dollar received, the National Writing Project 
raises $6.93 in matching grants. This makes the National Writing 
Project one of the most cost-effective educational programs in the 
country.
  Furthermore, a national staff of only two people administers the 
National Writing Project. The use of limited federal funds to leverage 
large private investments is the most efficient way to use the budgeted 
funds available for the greatest possible return.
  The National Writing Project works. For example, in Chicago, students 
of National Writing Project teachers have shown significantly

[[Page E681]]

higher gains on the Illinois Goals Assessment Program writing tests 
when compared to student performance citywide. In an urban Sacramento, 
California high school, student performance on local writing 
assessments rose from lowest to highest in the district after an influx 
of National Writing Project teachers to the school, and college 
enrollment among this school's senior class rose 400%.
  The National Writing Project has received similarly impressive 
results all across this country. In fact, the National Writing Project 
has received glowing reviews from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, 
the National Council of Teacher Education, the Council for Basic 
Education, and independent evaluators.
  The national Writing Project is efficient, cost-effective and 
successful. I look forward to working with my colleagues in enacting 
this important legislation.

                          ____________________