[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WELLSTONE:
  S. 445. A bill to provide for local family information centers, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President: I rise today to introduce legislation 
that will go a long way to increase the accountability of our schools 
and to help parents become more involved in their children's education. 
We all know that families are crucial to improving 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 post-secondary 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, those who are homeless, 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 through the school system.
  Parent involvement is more important now than ever before. As we move 
in the direction of increased accountability, high stakes testing and 
expanded public school choice, it is critical that parents know 
everything that is required of them and their children. They need to be 
sure that they have access to every aspect of their child's schooling, 
or their child could easily be left behind.
  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. Therefore, it is 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, tests, 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; understand school choice 
options; 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 
ultimately, it should be parents that are the greatest lever for strong 
accountability in schools. It is essential because of what we know 
about how children learn--that children who 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 and 
empower their parents. This legislation provides one necessary means to 
do so.
                                 ______