[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E138-E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IMPROVING EDUCATION THROUGH THE THREE R'S

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                            HON. SUSAN DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2001

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, there is widespread agreement 
that improving education must be our priority in this session of 
Congress. Fortunately, there is bipartisan agreement about much of the 
thrust of a program to use our surplus to substantially increase 
funding for programs that will reach the poorest students.
  An important area that we must work on, however, is how to deal with 
schools where children are not succeeding in learning. As a member of 
the California Assembly's Education Committee, I worked with my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address

[[Page E139]]

this issue. The program which was put in place makes very clear rewards 
for schools which demonstrate improvement for students at all levels of 
achievement.
  But what happens where a school doesn't improve? This is the 
important difference. We do not propose using critical funds in the 
Title I program for low income students to offer a portion of the cost 
for a child to seek private education. Instead, the failing schools 
themselves much be changed--through focusing professional development 
dollars on the principals and teachers or, if necessary replacing the 
leadership altogether. No school should be allowed to fail.
  One of the most critical elements of the New Democrat proposal for 
the Three R's, therefore, is investment in recruiting, training, and 
retraining teachers. We must do our best to support our professional 
educators. Every child has a right to an excellent teacher.

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