[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 22, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         EDUCATION BLOCK GRANTS

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, on Saturday, March 11, an editorial in 
the New York Times emphasized the significant concerns about the 
Republican education block grant proposal which was recently approved 
by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. As this 
editorial points out, education block grants to states would not be the 
most effective use of public tax dollars. Block grants do nothing to 
ensure change and reform through proven effective methods such as a: 
well-qualified teacher in every classroom; reduced class sizes to give 
children the individual attention they need and allow teachers to 
maintain order and discipline; helping all children to meet high 
standards; and holding schools accountable for improving student 
achievement and giving the neediest children the extra help they need. 
Education is a high priority for states, communities, teachers, 
parents, and students throughout the country, and it is important that 
we listen to them as we consider the reauthorization of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act in the full Senate in the weeks ahead.
  I believe that the editorial will be of interest to all of us 
concerned about this issue, and I ask unanimous consent that it be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                [From the New York Times, Mar. 11, 2000]

                      Misdirected Education Money

       Congressional Republicans, who in 1995 wanted to abolish 
     the federal Department of Education, now acknowledge that 
     federal support for education is necessary. But their 
     misguided insistence on sending federal education aid to the 
     states in the form of large, unfocused block grants threatens 
     to undermine services for disadvantaged students in the 
     poorest districts.
       The federal government currently contributes less than 10 
     cents of every dollar spent on public schools. That 
     contribution, though small, is crucial because much of the 
     money is directly aimed at especially needy schools in poor 
     communities. The Senate is now in the process of 
     reauthorizing the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act, the law that governs how more than $15 billion in annual 
     federal aid to public schools is spent. The House has been 
     working through similar legislation in several smaller bills.
       The Republicans in both the Senate and House want to roll a 
     number of aid programs, including the Title I program that 
     provides $8 billion a year for instructional support for 
     disadvantaged children, into a single general block grant 
     that would allow states to spend the money with less 
     accountability and less focus on the neediest students.
       Last October the House passed the ``Straight A's'' block-
     grant bill that creates a 10-state pilot project. This week 
     the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee 
     approved a broad measure that would allow all states to 
     receive most of their federal school aid in the form of a 
     block grant. Although the measure would require that states 
     allocate Title I money in the block grant to school districts 
     on the basis of poverty, it would also make available more 
     than $3 billion of block grants without targeting high-
     poverty areas. State governors could direct the money toward 
     any ``educational purposes,'' including private school 
     vouchers.
       The Senate committee also approved an amendment sponsored 
     by Judd Gregg, Republican of New Hampshire, that would allow 
     15 states to join a separate pilot project that would make 
     available a higher level of block grants with even less 
     federal oversight.
       The Republicans want to give states flexibility. But their 
     proposals do not create adequate mechanism to ensure that 
     funds are spent effectively or where they are most needed. 
     Block grants could also become targets for cuts because they 
     are unfocused and susceptible to misuse. The Democrats and 
     the Clinton administration are right to oppose them. Congress 
     should be guiding the states in education reform by asking 
     them to focus on specific targets--better teachers, smaller 
     classes and higher standards--for all students, but 
     particularly for the most disadvantaged. The Republican 
     approach runs counter to that purpose.

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