[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 126 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S11442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 186--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
    REAUTHORIZING THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

  Mr. LOTT (for himself, Mr. Gregg, and Mr. Coverdell) submitted the 
following resolution; which was ordered placed on the calendar:

                              S. Res. 186

       Whereas the fiscal year 2000 Senate Budget Resolution 
     increased education funding by $28,000,000,000 over the next 
     five years, and $82,000,000,000 over the next ten years, and 
     the Department of Education received a net increase of 
     $2,400,000,000 which doubles the President's requested 
     increase;
       Whereas compared to the President's requested levels, the 
     Democratically controlled Congress' appropriations for the 
     period 1993 through 1995 reduced the President's funding 
     requests by $3,000,000,000, and since Republicans took 
     control of Congress, Federal education funding has increased 
     by 27 percent;
       Whereas in the past three years, the Congress has increased 
     funding for Part B of Individuals with Disabilities Education 
     Act by nearly 80 percent, while the Administration's fiscal 
     year 2000 budget only requested a 0.07 percent increase which 
     is less than an adjustment for inflation, and Congress is 
     deeply concerned that while the Administration has provided 
     rhetoric in support of education of the disabled, the 
     Administration's budget has consistently taken money from 
     this high priority program to fund new and untested programs;
       Whereas Congress is not only providing the necessary funds, 
     but is also reforming our current education programs, and 
     Congress recognizes that significant reforms are needed in 
     light of troubling statistics indicating--
       (1) 40 percent of fourth graders cannot read at the most 
     basic level;
       (2) in international comparisons, United States 12th 
     graders scored near the bottom in both mathematics and 
     science;
       (3) 70 percent of children in high poverty schools score 
     below even the most basic level of reading; and
       (4) in mathematics, 9 year olds in high poverty schools 
     remain two grade levels behind students in low poverty 
     schools;
       Whereas earlier in 1999, the 106th Congress took the first 
     step toward improving our Nation's schools by passing the 
     Education Flexibility and Partnership Act of 1999, which 
     frees States and local communities to tailor education 
     programs to meet the individual needs of students and local 
     schools;
       Whereas the 1999 reauthorization of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 will focus on increasing 
     student achievement by empowering principals, local school 
     boards, teachers and parents, and the focus should be on 
     raising the achievement of all students.
       Whereas Congress should reject a one-size-fits all approach 
     to education, and local schools should have the freedom to 
     prioritize their spending and tailor their curriculum 
     according to the unique educational needs of their children;
       Whereas parents are the first and best educators of their 
     children, and Congress supports proposals that provide 
     parents greater control to choose unique educational 
     opportunities to best meet their children's educational 
     needs.
       Whereas every child should have an exceptional teacher in 
     the classroom, and Congress supports efforts to recruit, 
     retrain, and retain high quality teachers;
       Whereas quality instruction and learning can occur only in 
     a first class school that is safe and orderly;
       Whereas Congress supports proposals that give schools the 
     support they need to protect teachers and students, remove 
     disruptive influences, and create a positive learning 
     atmosphere; and
       Whereas success in education is best achieved when 
     instruction focuses on basic academics and fundamental 
     skills, and students should no longer be subjected to untried 
     and untested educational theories of instruction, rather our 
     Nation's efforts should be geared to proven methods of 
     instruction. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the Sense of the Senate--
       (1) this Congress has taken strong steps to reform our 
     Nation's educational system and allowed States, local schools 
     and parents more flexibility and authority over their 
     children's education; and
       (2) the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 will enable this Congress to continue 
     its efforts to send decision making back to States, local 
     schools and families.

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