[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


INTRODUCTION OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR ALL CHILDREN ACT OF 1999

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                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Educational 
Excellence for All Children Act of 1999, President Clinton's proposal 
to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This 
proposal will reinvigorate our commitment to high standards and 
achievement in every classroom; improve teacher and principal quality 
to ensure high-quality instruction for all children; strengthen 
accountability for results; and ensure safe, healthy, orderly and drug-
free school environments where all children can learn.
  Established in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on 
Poverty, the ESEA opened a new era of Federal support for education, 
particularly for students who would gain the most: children in our 
high-poverty communities and those at-risk of educational failure. 
Today, the ESEA authorizes the Federal government's single largest 
investment in elementary and secondary education. Through this Act, the 
Congress and the President will reaffirm and strength the Federal role 
in promoting academic excellence and equal educational opportunity for 
every American.
  This reauthorization of ESEA comes at a critical time for our 
country. The restructuring of ESEA that was done during the last review 
in 1994, to establish challenging State-developed standards and 
assessments, put us on the path to greater academic achievement for all 
students. This legislation builds upon this focus and targets 
improvement towards the lowest performing schools and students through 
comprehensive interventions and assistance, and if necessary, requires 
consequences for continual failure of schools. Overall, this 
reauthorization gives Congress the opportunity to complete the work 
done in 1994 by strengthening our focus on quality and accountability 
for results.
  Coupled with the strong emphasis on achievement in this bill is an 
equally vigorous and complimentary focus on improving the quality of 
our teaching force. Qualified teachers are the most single critical in-
school factor in improving student achievement. Unfortunately, too many 
of our teachers still do not receive on-going high-quality professional 
development. This bill refocuses the professional development programs 
in ESEA to bring the challenging academic standards which all States 
have developed into the classroom. In addition, this legislation 
authorizes the President's high-promising 100,000 teacher class-size 
program enacted as a part of last year's appropriation process. We must 
ensure that all children in America have talented, dedicated, teachers 
in small classes and this bill puts on this path.
  Another important priority in this legislation is the fostering of 
supportive learning environments that reduces the likelihood of 
disruptive behavior and school violence while encouraging personal 
growth and academic development. This legislation strengthen the Safe 
and Drug-Free Schools and Act by emphasizing the funding of research-
based approaches to violence prevention; expands the comprehensive 
prevention efforts through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students 
initiative; and encourages reform of America's high schools through 
increased individualized attention and learning.
  In 1994, Congress and the President worked together to raise 
standards for all children and to provide a quality education for them 
to achieve those standards. Five years later, there is evidence that 
standards-based reform has increased achievement in many states, while 
helping spark reforms in others. With this bill, we must build upon the 
accomplishments of 1994. We can no longer tolerate lower expectations 
and results for poor and disadvantaged students. We must take the next 
step by helping schools and teachers bring high standards into every 
classroom and help every child achieve. The legislation I am 
introducing today will provide us with the tools to accomplish these 
vital missions.

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