[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 22 (Thursday, February 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1469-S1471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CARNAHAN:
  S. 342. A bill to assist local educational agencies by providing 
grants for proven measures for increasing the quality of education, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to speak 
about an issue that is close to my heart and one that is essential to 
the Nation's future--the education of our children.
  Education was a priority for my husband, the late Mel Carnahan, 
throughout his career, and it was a driving force during his two terms 
as Governor of Missouri.
  I recall that one of the things he enjoyed most as he traveled around 
the State was visiting schools. He would come home excited about the 
good things that were happening in Missouri schools.
  His Outstanding Schools Act, passed during his first term as 
Governor, brought major improvements to classrooms throughout our 
State. He dreamed of doing even more. As he traveled across Missouri 
seeking election to this body, he called for a new national commitment 
to the education of America's children.
  Though he did not live to pursue that dream, I am proud to stand here 
in his place in the U.S. Senate to introduce my first bill--a bill 
imprinted with his hopes, a bill that fulfills his pledge to the 
citizens of Missouri, and a bill that reinforces the President's 
promise ``to leave no child behind.''
  Though teachers, students, and parents are trying harder than ever, 
schools are facing difficult times.
  My concern, and the focus of this legislation, is the classrooms of 
America: Classrooms that are severely crowded and housed in 
deteriorating facilities; classrooms where disorderly and sometimes 
violent students are disrupting learning; classrooms in need of math, 
science, and reading specialists.
  As a result of these conditions, far too many students are failing to 
learn and are falling behind in comparison with students in other 
developed nations.
  Increases in student population across the Nation further heighten 
the

[[Page S1470]]

problems, as does the loss of teachers to retirement or other 
professions. According to the 1998 National Assessment of Education 
Progress, one-quarter of our students are still being taught in classes 
of more than 25 students.
  As we watch class sizes grow, we see the physical condition of our 
older classrooms fall into dangerous disrepair. In Missouri alone, we 
face the daunting prospect of $4 billion in construction needs for our 
public schools over the next decade.
  The threat and frequency of violence and disruptions in our 
classrooms remain at unacceptable levels. A recent study by the 
Educational Testing Service made this observation:

       School discipline * * * problems are critical factors in 
     student achievement. Without order in our classrooms, 
     teachers can't teach and students can't learn.

  Our national leaders have been bemoaning the condition of public 
schools for many years. Over 50 years ago, President Truman said:

       The schools in this country are crowded and teachers 
     underpaid. One of our greatest national needs is more and 
     better schools.

  Later, President Eisenhower noted:

       Millions of children were receiving substandard education 
     because of unsanitary, overcrowded, and unsafe classrooms. * 
     * * It was evident to many of us, but not all, that in view 
     of the financial positions of many states and school 
     districts, the federal government would have to help.

  Yet decades after these remarks, the Federal Government still 
provides a mere 7 percent of the national education budget.
  I understand there are many who are weary of increased Federal 
education funding because they fear that with such funds comes Federal 
control of local schools. While this is a legitimate concern, it need 
not be a paralyzing fear that prevents us from moving ahead with much 
needed classroom improvements.
  There is a way for us to fund public schools without adding redtape, 
burdening our school districts, or enabling Federal bureaucrats to 
dictate local education policy.
  The legislation I introduce today--the Quality Classrooms Act--will 
do just that. It calls for a new commitment of $50 billion over the 
next decade to our local schools.
  These funds would flow directly from the Federal Government to local 
schools districts and would be dedicated exclusively to helping schools 
provide what parents, teachers, and students most desire--more 
intensive, individualized, face-to-face instruction in the classroom.
  It recognizes that different school districts have different needs. 
Some may need to reduce class size, others to improve classroom 
conditions. In an attempt to provide more flexibility to each school 
district and to keep decisionmaking at the local level, this bill 
allows school districts to use the funding for one, or a combination of 
purposes. Each of the five options addresses class size or conditions--
a formula that has led to improved student performance in the past.
  Funds under the Quality Classrooms Act would be used to do one or 
more of the following: Hire new classroom teachers to reduce student-
teacher ratios; build or renovate classrooms to relieve overcrowding; 
hire experienced teaching specialists, focusing on basics such as 
reading, science, and math; establish alternative discipline programs 
for the education of chronically violent and disruptive students; and 
provide a year-round schedule.
  This menu of choices allows schools to retain flexibility, yet leaves 
parents and taxpayers with the comfort of knowing that resources are 
being spent on measures with proven success.
  The bill provides added flexibility and innovation by setting aside 
10 percent of the available funding for a competitive grant program. 
These ``Innovation Grants'' would encourage schools to develop creative 
approaches to quality instruction.
  Grant recipients are required to evaluate these newly developed 
programs to determine what approaches enhance student performance. 
Aside from this evaluation, however, school districts will not be 
required to file burdensome reports or abide by new Federal mandates.
  This proposed legislation makes sure that money goes to schools, 
teachers, and students, not the education bureaucracy. It requires the 
Department of Education to spend only the bare minimum necessary to 
operate the grant program. Funds flow directly from the Federal 
Government to local school districts.
  I present this legislation knowing that education improvement is 
going to be one of the predominant themes in the 107th Congress. An 
important part of this theme is the discussion about how to make our 
schools more accountable. These discussions are centered around 
proposals by the President, my colleagues, Senators Bayh and Lieberman, 
and others. Accountability must be a part of our education debate, and 
I look forward to participating in those efforts.
  But even as we pursue that goal, we must make sure that all our 
public school students are learning in modern facilities, with skilled 
teachers, in classrooms with an appropriate number of well disciplined 
students.
  To achieve these goals, we need a greater Federal investment in 
education. Families wanting to provide a better future for themselves 
and their children know the wisdom of investing in a home, a savings 
account, or a pension plan. It is a lesson worth noting as we ponder 
the future of public education. To shortchange America's children not 
only disheartens educators, parents, and communities, it violates our 
national interests and the vision that has marked us as a people.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to consider this legislation designed 
to strengthen student achievement by promoting quality classrooms all 
across America.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 342

       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 ``Quality Classrooms Act''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to support local educational 
     agencies by awarding grants for--
       (1) the implementation of specific measures, as selected by 
     local educational agencies from a local accountability menu, 
     that have been proven to increase the quality of education; 
     and
       (2) the conduct of other activities that local educational 
     agencies demonstrate will provide enhanced individual 
     instruction for the students served by the agencies.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
     agency'' has the same meaning given that term under section 
     14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 8801).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Education.

     SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAMS.

       (a) Local Accountability Menu Grants.--
       (1) Program authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants 
     to local educational agencies to be used for the activities 
     described in paragraph (3).
       (2) Application.--
       (A) In general.--A local educational agency desiring a 
     grant under this subsection shall submit an application to 
     the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
     such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
       (B) Contents.--Each application submitted under 
     subparagraph (A) shall include--
       (i) a description of the local educational agency's plan of 
     activities for which grant funds under this subsection are 
     sought;
       (ii) a detailed budget of anticipated grant fund 
     expenditures;
       (iii) a detailed description of the methodology that the 
     local educational agency will use to evaluate the 
     effectiveness of grants received by such agency under this 
     subsection; and
       (iv) such assurances as the Secretary determines to be 
     essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this 
     Act.
       (3) Authorized activities.--Grant funds awarded under this 
     subsection may be used for one or more of the following 
     measures, collectively established as the local 
     accountability menu:
       (A) Reduction of student-teacher ratios through the hiring 
     of new classroom teachers.
       (B) School construction assistance for the purpose of 
     relieving overcrowded classrooms and reducing the use of 
     portable classrooms.
       (C) Hiring of additional experienced teachers who 
     specialize in teaching core subjects such as reading, math, 
     and science, and who will provide increased individualized 
     instruction to students served by the local educational 
     agency.

[[Page S1471]]

       (D) Alternative programs for the education and discipline 
     of chronically violent and disruptive students.
       (E) Assistance to facilitate the local educational agency's 
     establishment of a year-round school schedule that will allow 
     the agency to increase pay for veteran teachers and reduce 
     the agency's need to hire additional teachers or construct 
     new facilities.
       (4) Administrative cap.--A local educational agency that 
     receives a grant under this subsection shall not use more 
     than 3 percent of the funds received for administrative 
     expenses.
       (b) Innovation Grants.--
       (1) Program authorized.--The Secretary shall reserve 10 
     percent of the amount made available to carry out this Act in 
     each fiscal year to award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
     local educational agencies for the local educational agencies 
     to carry out the activities described in paragraph (3).
       (2) Application.--
       (A) In general.--A local educational agency desiring a 
     grant under this subsection shall submit an application to 
     the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
     such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
       (B) Contents.--Each application submitted under 
     subparagraph (A) shall include--
       (i) a description of the local educational agency's plan of 
     activities for which grant funds under this subsection are 
     sought;
       (ii) a detailed budget of anticipated grant fund 
     expenditures;
       (iii) a detailed description of the methodology that the 
     local educational agency will use to evaluate the 
     effectiveness of grants received by such agency under this 
     subsection; and
       (iv) such assurances as the Secretary determines to be 
     essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this 
     Act.
       (3) Authorized activities.--Each local educational agency 
     receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the amounts 
     received under the grant for one or more activities that the 
     local educational agency sufficiently demonstrates, as 
     determined by the Secretary, will provide enhanced individual 
     instruction for students served by the agency, but that are 
     not part of the local accountability menu described in 
     subsection (a)(3).
       (4) Limitation.--No funds awarded under this subsection 
     shall be used for tuition payments for students at private 
     schools or for public school choice programs.
       (5) Administrative cap.--A local educational agency that 
     receives a grant under this subsection shall not use more 
     than 3 percent of the funds received for administrative 
     expenses.

     SEC. 5. ALLOCATION.

       (a) Administrative Cap.--The Secretary shall expend not 
     more than 0.25 percent of the funds made available to carry 
     out this Act on administrative costs.
       (b) Funding to Indian Tribes.--From the amount made 
     available to carry out this Act for any fiscal year, the 
     Secretary shall reserve 0.75 percent to awards grants to 
     Indian tribes to carry out the purposes of this Act.
       (c) Formula.--From the amount made available to carry out 
     this Act for any fiscal year, and remaining after the 
     reservations under subsections (a) and (b) and under section 
     4(b)(1), the Secretary shall distribute such remaining 
     amounts among the local education agencies as follows:
       (1) 80 percent of such amount shall be allocated among such 
     eligible, local educational agencies in proportion to the 
     number of children, aged 5 to 17, who reside in the school 
     district served by such local educational agency from 
     families with incomes below the poverty line (as defined by 
     the Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in 
     accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services 
     Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) applicable to a family of 
     the size involved for the most recent fiscal year for which 
     satisfactory data are available as compared to the number of 
     such children who reside in the school districts served by 
     all eligible, local educational agencies for the fiscal year 
     involved.
       (2) 20 percent of such amount shall be allocated among such 
     eligible local educational agencies in proportion to the 
     relative enrollments of children, aged 5 to 17, in public and 
     private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools within the 
     boundaries of such agencies.
       (d) Limitation on Carryover.--Not more than 20 percent of 
     the funds allocated to a local educational agency for any 
     fiscal year under this Act may remain available for 
     obligation by such agency for 1 additional fiscal year.

     SEC. 6. SANCTIONS.

       If the Secretary determines that the local educational 
     agency has used funds in violation of the provisions of this 
     Act or the regulations promulgated by the Secretary pursuant 
     to section 8, the Secretary may impose an appropriate 
     sanction that may include reimbursement or ineligibility for 
     additional funds for a period of years, depending upon the 
     severity of the misuse of funds.

     SEC. 7. REPORT AND DOCUMENTATION.

       (a) Report to the Secretary.--At such time as the Secretary 
     deems appropriate, and not less than once each year 
     thereafter, each recipient of a grant under this Act shall 
     submit to the Secretary a report that includes, for the year 
     to which the report relates--
       (1) a description of how the funds made available under 
     this Act were expended in correlation with the plan and 
     budget submitted under sections 4(a)(2) and 4(b)(2), as 
     applicable; and
       (2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant 
     received under this Act, as required by sections 4(a)(2)(B) 
     and 4(b)(2)(B), as applicable.
       (b) Documents and Information.--Each recipient of a grant 
     under this Act shall provide the Secretary with all documents 
     and information that the Secretary reasonably determines to 
     be necessary to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of 
     programs funded under this Act.

     SEC. 8. REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

       The Secretary shall issue such regulations and guidelines 
     as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

     SEC. 9. NOTICE.

       Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall provide specific notification 
     concerning the availability of grants authorized by this Act 
     to each local educational agency.

     SEC. 10. ANTIDISCRIMINATION.

       Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify or affect 
     any Federal or State law prohibiting discrimination on the 
     basis of race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, 
     gender, age, or disability, or to modify or affect any right 
     to enforcement of this Act that may exist under other Federal 
     laws, except as expressly provided by this Act.

     SEC. 11. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.

       Funds made available under this Act shall be used to 
     supplement, not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local 
     funds that would otherwise be available to carry out the 
     activities assisted under this Act.

     SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act, $50,000,000,000 for the 10-fiscal year period beginning 
     on October 1, 2002.
                                 ______