[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10473-S10476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Harkin, 
        and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1556. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to strengthen the involvement of parents in the education of 
their children, and for the other purposes; to the Committee on Heath, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.


 parental accountability, recruitment, and education national training 
                              act of 1999

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Parental 
Accountability, Recruitment, and Education National Training (PARENT) 
Act of 1999, which seeks to increase parental involvement in the 
educational lives of their children.
  Mr. President, research, experience, and reason tell us that 
providing parents with opportunities to play active roles in their 
children's schools empowers them to help their children excel. When 
parents are actively involved in their child's education, not only do 
their own children go further, but their child's school also improves 
to the benefit of all students. And, as I have witnessed in Rhode 
Island, and I am sure my colleagues can attest to this in their home 
states, our best schools are not simply those with the finest teachers 
and principals, but those which strive to engage parents in the 
education of their children.
  A recent National PTA survey revealed that 91% of parents recognize 
the importance of involvement in their children's schools. 
Unfortunately, even as we extol the virtue of parental involvement, we 
must recognize that reality falls far short of the goal. The National 
PTA survey also found that roughly half the parents surveyed felt they 
were inadequately informed about ways in which they could participate 
in schools, or even gain access to basic information about their 
children's studies and their children's teachers. There are also other 
obstacles to greater parental involvement, such as working parents who 
find it difficult to get to schools and be involved or parents who have 
had negative schooling experiences and are wary of entering schools to 
participate in their children's education.
  With 73% of parents favoring a federal effort to help schools get 
parents more involved with their children's education, the upcoming 
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) 
provides an opportunity to help bring schools and parents together, and 
to ensure parents have the tools to meaningfully and effectively get 
involved in their children's education. While the ESEA currently 
contains parental involvement provisions, they mainly apply to Title I 
schools and students, and have not been fully implemented.
  That is why I am pleased to be joined by Senators Murray, Kennedy, 
Harkin, and Bingaman and Representative Lynn Woolsey in the other body 
in introducing the PARENT Act. This legislation would amend the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to bolster existing and 
add new parental involvement provisions.
  The PARENT Act requires that all schools implement effective, 
research-based parental involvement best practices. It also seeks to 
improve parental access to information about their children's education 
and the school's parental involvement policies; ensure that 
professional development activities provide training to teachers and 
administrators on how to foster relationships with parents and 
encourage parental involvement; utilize technology to expand efforts to 
connect schools and teachers with parents; and promote parental 
involvement in drug and violence prevention programs. In addition, the 
PARENT Act requires any state seeking funding under ESEA to describe, 
implement, and evaluate parental involvement policies and practices.
  To succeed in the endeavor of increasing parental involvement, we 
must depend on parents, teachers, and school administrators throughout 
the country to work collaboratively to implement effective programs. 
However, federal leadership is needed to provide schools, teachers, and 
parents with the tools adequate to this task.
  Mr. President, the bottom line of federal support for education is to 
increase student achievement. Parental involvement is an essential 
component to ensuring that our students succeed. This legislation is 
strongly supported by the National PTA, and I urge my colleagues to 
join Senators Murray, Kennedy, Harkin, Bingaman, and me in supporting 
the PARENT Act, and working for its inclusion in the ESEA 
reauthorization.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this 
legislation be printed in the Record.
  The being no objection, bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, 
as follows:

                                S. 1556

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Parental Accountability, 
     Recruitment, and Education National Training Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment

[[Page S10474]]

     to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
     reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Parents are the first and most influential educators of 
     their children.
       (2) The Federal Government must provide leadership, 
     technical assistance, and financial support to States and 
     local educational agencies, as partners, in helping the 
     agencies implement successful and effective parental 
     involvement policies and programs that lead to improved 
     student achievement.
       (3) State and local education officials, as well as 
     teachers, principals, and other staff at the school level, 
     must work as partners with the parents of the children they 
     serve.
       (4) Research has documented that, regardless of the 
     economic, ethnic, or cultural background of the family, 
     parental involvement in a child's education is a major factor 
     in determining success in school.
       (5) Parental involvement in a child's education contributes 
     to positive outcomes such as improved grades and test scores, 
     higher expectations for student achievement, better school 
     attendance, improved homework completion rates, decreased 
     violence and substance abuse, and higher rates of graduation 
     and enrollment in postsecondary education.
       (6) Numerous education laws now require meaningful parental 
     involvement, including title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the 
     Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.), the 
     Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), and the Individuals 
     with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), and 
     elements of these laws should be extended to other Federal 
     education programs.

     SEC. 4. BASIC PROGRAMS.

       (a) State Plan.--Section 1111 (20 U.S.C. 6311) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii), by striking ``other 
     measures'' and inserting ``academic achievement and other 
     measures, such as a school or local educational agency's 
     responsibilities under sections 1118 and 1119'';
       (2) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by inserting before the 
     semicolon the following: ``, and parental involvement under 
     section 1118'';
       (3) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as 
     subsections (e) through (h), respectively; and
       (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) Parental Involvement.--Each State plan shall 
     demonstrate that the State has identified or developed 
     effective research-based best practices designed to foster 
     meaningful parental involvement. Such best practices shall--
       ``(1) be disseminated to all schools and local educational 
     agencies in the State;
       ``(2) be implemented in all schools in the State; and
       ``(3) address the full range of parental involvement 
     activities required under section 1118.''.
       (b) Local Educational Agency Plans.--Section 1112 (20 
     U.S.C. 6312) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (H) as 
     subparagraphs (E) through (I); and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(D) work in consultation with schools as the schools 
     develop and implement their plans or activities under 
     sections 1118 and 1119;''; and
       (2) in subsection (e)(3), by inserting before the period 
     the following: ``and if such agency's parental involvement 
     activities are in accordance with section 1118''.
       (c) Schoolwide Programs.--Section 1114 (20 U.S.C. 6314) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by inserting after 
     ``involvement'' the following: ``in accordance with section 
     1118''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(iv), by inserting after 
     ``results'' the following: ``in a language the family can 
     understand''.
       (d) Targeted Assistance.--Section 1115(c)(1)(H) (20 U.S.C. 
     6315(c)(1)(H)) is amended by inserting after ``involvement'' 
     the following: ``in accordance with section 1118''.
       (e) Assessments.--Section 1116 (20 U.S.C. 6317) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
     (4) and (5), respectively;
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) review the effectiveness of the actions and 
     activities the schools are carrying out under this part with 
     respect to parental involvement, professional development, 
     and other activities assisted under this Act;''; and
       (C) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
     (3))--
       (i) by inserting ``of yearly progress'' after ``annual 
     review''; and
       (ii) by striking ``of all'' and inserting ``and the review 
     conducted under paragraph (3), with respect to all'';
       (2) in subsection (c)(4), by inserting after ``elements of 
     student performance problems'' the following: ``, that 
     addresses school problems, if any, in implementing the 
     parental involvement requirements in section 1118 and the 
     professional development requirements in section 1119,''; and
       (3) in subsection (d)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
       (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) annually review the effectiveness of the action or 
     activities carried out under this part by each local 
     educational agency receiving funds under this part with 
     respect to parental involvement, professional development, 
     and other activities assisted under this Act; and''; and
       (D) in subparagraph (C) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
     (B))--
       (i) by inserting ``of yearly progress'' after ``State 
     review''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``, and of the review conducted under 
     subparagraph (B)'' after ``1111(b)(3)(I)''.
       (f) State Assistance.--Section 1117 (20 U.S.C. 6318) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``parental 
     involvement,'' after ``including''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(C)--
       (i) by inserting ``parents,'' after ``including''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``parental involvement programs,'' after 
     ``successful''; and
       (B) by inserting at the end the following:
       ``(4) Parental involvement.--Each State shall collect and 
     disseminate effective parental involvement practices to local 
     educational agencies and schools. Such practices shall--
       ``(A) be based on the most current research on effective 
     parental involvement that fosters achievement to high 
     standards for all children;
       ``(B) be geared toward lowering barriers to greater 
     participation in school planning, review, and improvement 
     experienced by parents; and
       ``(C) be implemented by the State in local educational 
     agencies and schools requesting such assistance from the 
     State.''.
       (g) Parental Involvement.--Section 1118 (20 U.S.C. 6319) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting before the 
     semicolon the following: ``activities that will lead to 
     improved student achievement for all students'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting before the last 
     sentence the following: ``Parents shall be notified of the 
     policy in their own language.'';
       (3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``participating 
     parents'' and inserting ``all parents of children served by 
     the school or agency, as appropriate,'';
       (4) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following: 
     ``Such local educational agencies and schools may use 
     information, technical assistance, and other support from the 
     parental information and resource centers to create parent 
     resource centers in schools.''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) State Review.--The State educational agency shall 
     review the local educational agency's parental involvement 
     policies and practices to determine if such policies and 
     practices are meaningful and targeted to improve home and 
     school communication, student achievement, and parental 
     involvement in school planning, review, and improvement.''.

     SEC. 5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Purposes.--Section 2002(2) (20 U.S.C. 6602(2)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) incorporates training in effective practices in order 
     to encourage and offer opportunities to get parents involved 
     in their child's education in ways that will foster student 
     achievement and well-being; and
       ``(H) includes special training for teachers and 
     administrators to develop the skills necessary to work most 
     effectively with parents.''.
       (b) Authorized Activities.--Section 2102(c) (20 U.S.C. 
     6622(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(15) the development and dissemination of model programs 
     that teach teachers and administrators how best to work with 
     parents and how to encourage the parent's involvement in the 
     full range of parental involvement activities described in 
     section 1118.''.
       (c) State Applications.--Section 2205(b)(2) (20 U.S.C. 
     6645(b)(2)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (N), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (O) as subparagraph (P); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the following:
       ``(O) describe how the State will train teachers to foster 
     relationships with parents and encourage parents to become 
     collaborators with schools in their children's education; 
     and''.
       (d) State-Level Activities.--Section 2207 (20 U.S.C. 6647) 
     is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as (13) and 
     (14), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
       ``(12) providing professional development programs that 
     enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel 
     to effectively communicate with and involve parents in the 
     education process to support

[[Page S10475]]

     school planning, review, improvement, and classroom 
     instruction, and to work effectively with parent 
     volunteers;''.
       (e) Local Plan and Application for Improving Teaching and 
     Learning.--Section 2208 (20 U.S.C. 6648) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``parents,'' after 
     ``administrators,''; and
       (2) in subsection (d)(1)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) and (J) as 
     subparagraphs (J) and (K), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
       ``(I) describe the specific professional development 
     strategies that will be implemented to improve parental 
     involvement in education and how such agency will be held 
     accountable for implementing such strategies.''.
       (f) Local Allocation.--Section 2210(b)(3) (20 U.S.C. 
     6650(b)(3)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (P) and (Q) as 
     subparagraphs (Q) and (R), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (O) the following:
       ``(P) professional development activities designed to 
     enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel 
     to communicate with parents regarding student achievement on 
     assessments.''.

     SEC. 6. TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION.

       (a) Findings.--Section 3111 (20 U.S.C. 6811) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``and by facilitating 
     mentor relationships,'' after ``by means of 
     telecommunications,'';
       (2) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (3) in paragraph (15), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(16) access to education technology and teachers trained 
     in how to incorporate the technology into their instruction 
     leads to improved student achievement, motivation, and school 
     attendance;
       ``(17) the use of technology in education can enhance the 
     educational opportunities schools can offer students with 
     special needs; and
       ``(18) the introduction of education technology increases 
     parental involvement, which has been shown to improve student 
     achievement.''.
       (b) Statement of Purpose.--Section 3112 (20 U.S.C. 6812) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding after paragraph (12), the following:
       ``(13) development and support for technology and 
     technology programming that will enhance and facilitate 
     meaningful parental involvement.''.
       (c) National Long-Range Technology Plan.--Section 
     3121(c)(4) (20 U.S.C. 6831(c)(4)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) increased parental involvement in schools through the 
     use of technology;''.
       (d) Federal Leadership.--Section 3122(c) (20 U.S.C. 
     6832(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (15), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (16), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(17) the development, demonstration, and evaluation of 
     model technology programs designed to improve parental 
     involvement.''.
       (e) Local Uses of Funds.--Section 3134 (20 U.S.C. 6844) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) utilizing technology to develop or expand efforts to 
     connect schools and teachers with parents to promote 
     meaningful parental involvement and foster increased 
     communication about curriculum, assignments, and assessments; 
     and
       ``(8) providing ongoing training and support for parents to 
     help the parents learn and use the technology being applied 
     in their children's education, so as to equip the parents to 
     reinforce and support their children's learning.''.
       (f) Local Applications.--Section 3135 (20 U.S.C. 6845) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(D)--
       (A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
       (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iii) a description of how parents will be informed of, 
     and trained in, the use of technologies, so that the parents 
     will be equipped to reinforce at home the instruction their 
     children receive at school;'';
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) improve parental involvement in schools;'';
       (3) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) describe how the local educational agency will 
     effectively use technology to promote parental involvement 
     and increase communication with parents.''.
       (g) National Challenge Grants.--Section 3136(c) (20 U.S.C. 
     6846(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) the project will enhance parental involvement by 
     providing parents the means and the skills needed to more 
     fully participate in their child's learning.''.

     SEC. 7. DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

       (a) State Applications.--Section 4112 (20 U.S.C. 7112) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including how the 
     agency will receive input from parents regarding the use of 
     such funds'' after ``4113(b)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``, and how such review 
     will include input from parents'' after ``4115''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) a specific description of how input from parents will 
     be sought regarding the use of funds under section 
     4114(a).''.
       (b) Evaluation and Reporting.--Section 4117 (20 U.S.C. 
     7117) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) on the State's efforts to inform parents of and 
     include parents in violence and drug prevention efforts.''; 
     and
       (2) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by striking 
     the period and inserting ``and a description of how parents 
     were informed of and participated in violence and drug 
     prevention efforts.''.

     SEC. 8. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM STRATEGIES.

       (a) Definition.--Section 6003 (20 U.S.C. 7303) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``children, and (3)'' and inserting 
     ``children, (3) adopting meaningful parental involvement 
     policies and practices, and (4)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(F) A climate that promotes meaningful parental 
     involvement in the classroom and in site-based activities.''.
       (b) State Applications.--Section 6202(a) (20 U.S.C. 
     7332(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(8) provides information on the parental involvement 
     policies and practices promoted by the State.''.
       (c) Targeted Uses of Funds.--Section 6301(b) (20 U.S.C. 
     7351(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
       ``(10) programs to promote the meaningful involvement of 
     parents.''.
       (d) Local Applications.--Section 6303(a)(1)(A) (20 U.S.C. 
     7353(a)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``, including parental 
     involvement,'' before ``designed''.

     SEC. 9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

       (a) Definition.--Section 14101 (20 U.S.C. 8801) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (23) through (29) as 
     paragraphs (24) through (30), respectfully; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (22) the following:
       ``(23) Parental involvement.--The term `parental 
     involvement' means the participation of parents on all levels 
     of a school's operation, including all of the activities 
     described in section 1118.''.
       (b) Parental Involvement.--Title XIV (20 U.S.C. 8801 et 
     seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                     ``PART H--PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

     ``SEC. 14901. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

       ``(a) State Parental Involvement Plan.--In order to receive 
     Federal funding for any program authorized under this Act, a 
     State educational agency shall (as part of a consolidated 
     application, or other State plan or application submitted 
     under this Act) submit to the Secretary--
       ``(1) a description of the agency's parental involvement 
     policies, consistent with section 1118, including specific 
     details about--
       ``(A) how Federal funds will be used to implement such 
     policies; and
       ``(B) successful research-based practices in schools 
     throughout the State; and
       ``(2) a description of how such policies will be evaluated 
     with respect to increased parental involvement in the schools 
     throughout the State.
       ``(b) Parental Review of State Parental Involvement Plan.--
     Prior to making the submission described in subsection (a), a 
     State educational agency shall involve parents in the 
     development of the policies described in such subsection by--
       ``(1) providing public notice of the policies in a manner 
     and language understandable to parents;

[[Page S10476]]

       ``(2) providing the opportunity for parents and other 
     interested individuals to comment on the policies; and
       ``(3) including the comments received with the submission.
       ``(c) Language Applicability.--Each State educational 
     agency and local educational agency that is required to 
     establish a parental involvement plan or policy under a 
     program assisted under this Act shall make available, to the 
     parents of children eligible to participate in the program, 
     the plan or policy in the language most familiar to the 
     parents and in an easily understandable manner.''.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I commend Senator Reed for introducing 
this important legislation. I am proud to co-sponsor this bill to 
ensure that parents have a stronger role in the education of their 
children.
  The first and most important teachers in children's lives are their 
parents. It is parents who help children begin learning about the 
world. It is parents who provide motivation and encouragement for 
academic success. And it is parents who provide indispensable lessons 
of character. The central role that parents play in the lives of their 
children requires strong parental involvement in education.
  Involving parents in education increases the achievement of all 
students. Research has repeatedly shown that a child with an involved 
parent is more likely to attend school regularly, is less likely to 
engage in violence or substance abuse, and will do better academically 
and on standardized tests. These fundamental principles apply without 
regard to the economic status or ethnic background of the parents.
  Parental involvement is also a vital part of a child's literacy. 
Children excel in reading when reading is a regular part of their early 
education. Students who have a greater array of reading material in the 
home have higher reading achievement.
  We know that increased parental involvement works. In Worcester, the 
Belmont Community School has instituted a school-wide reading 
initiative called ``Books and Beyond,'' which is helping children 
improve their reading skills and encourage their desire to read. Its 
success is largely due to special workshops and classes for parents, 
which emphasizes parental involvement, adult literacy training, and 
strong parent-school partnerships.
  The Hueco Elementary School in El Paso, Texas, supports parent 
involvement in a number of ways. It offers parenting classes throughout 
the year, including training for parents to support learning at home. 
It works to increase communication with parents through a Parent 
Communication Council that meets monthly. Hueco has also hired a 
successful parent coordinator to help teachers involve parents. This 
effort has paid off. Now parents have a strong role in the school. They 
participate in classroom instruction, and they are able to improve 
their own education. Average attendance has risen to 97 percent. 
Students whose parents attend workshops and participate in other 
activities have more success in school and fewer disciplinary problems.
  The federal government has a responsibility to be part of the effort 
to enhance parental involvement. The legislation we are introducing 
will help states and school districts to create strong ties with 
parents. It strengthens parental involvement programs in Title I, and 
encourages schools to use proven techniques for helping teachers and 
parents work together. It also provides support for connecting schools 
and parents through technology, and it increases the role of parents in 
the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program.
  Strong parent involvement will help ensure strong schools. We should 
do all we can to make sure that federal support for improving public 
schools provides a strong role for parents. By doing so, we help create 
the brighter future that all the nation's children deserve.
                                 ______