[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S13165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WELLSTONE (for himself and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 1785. A bill to provide for local family information centers, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.


               LOCAL FAMILY EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTERS

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I speak on behalf of myself and Senator 
Kerry from Massachusetts, today for myself and Senator Kerry of 
Massachusetts today to introduce legislation that will go a long way to 
help parents become more involved in their children's education. We all 
know that families are crucial to the improvement of our nation's 
schools. To ensure that schools and students meet challenging 
educational goals, families must be involved. Parents must insist that 
their children get the best education. They must understand, shape and 
support the reforms in their schools; and, they must work with schools 
to help all children meet their goals.
  We know that when families are fully engaged in the educational 
process, students have: higher grades and test scores; better 
attendance and more homework done; fewer placements in special 
education; more positive attitudes and behavior; higher graduation 
rates; and, greater enrollment in postsecondary education.
  For school reforms to help all children, we must move to ensure that 
all parents are involved in their children's education. For many 
parents, this is not an easy task. Parents, particularly those who have 
limited English proficiency, or those who have a troubled history with 
the school system, often need outside help to get the information, 
support, and training they need to help their children navigate the 
school system.
  Current provisions in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act provide for excellent and important ways for parents to 
get involved in their children's education. However, in some cases, 
parent involvement of the type envisioned by Title I remains a distant 
goal. Many Title I schools (though not all) have failed to fully bring 
parents into the development of parent involvement policies, school-
parent compacts, and into planning and improvement for the school as 
provided for in Title I. It is thus essential for families to have an 
independent source of information and support that they understand and 
trust so that they can participate in an informed and effective manner 
and help move the schools toward the goal of full parental 
participation.
  To achieve this critical end, this legislation would provide 
competitive grants to community based organizations to establish Local 
Family Information Centers. These centers, made up of community members 
as well as professionals from the Title I schools in the area, should 
have a track record of effective outreach and work with low income 
communities. They, in consultation with the school district, would 
develop a plan to provide parents with the full support that they need 
to be partners in their children's education. For example, they would 
help parents understand standards, assessments, and accountability 
systems; support activities that are likely to improve student 
achievement in Title I schools; understand and analyze data that 
schools, districts, and states must provide under reporting 
requirements of ESEA and other laws; understand and participate in the 
implementation of parent involvement requirements of ESEA, including; 
and, communicate effectively with school personnel.
  This legislation is essential because it would reach and assist 
parents most isolated from participation by poverty, race, limited 
English proficiency and other factors. It is essential because of what 
we know about how children learn--that children that are the farthest 
behind make the greatest gains when their parents are part of their 
school life.
  Many schools do a very good job of involving parents in education 
reform. This bill does nothing but ensure that parents have the option 
of an independent voice in districts where schools do not do such a 
good job. If we are to educate our children, we must also educate their 
parents. This legislation provides one necessary means to do so.
                                 ______