[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 130 (Thursday, November 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11061-S11064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD:
  S. 4061. A bill to create, adopt, and implement rigorous and 
voluntary American education content standards in mathematics and 
science covering kindergarten through grade 12, to provide for the 
assessment of student proficiency bench marked against such standards, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
   Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce The Standards to 
Provide Educational Access for Kids (SPEAK) Act. This bill will create, 
adopt, and implement voluntary core American education content 
standards in math and science while incentivizing states to adopt them.
  America's leadership, economic, and national security rest on our 
commitment to educate and prepare our youth to succeed in a global 
economy. The key to succeeding in this endeavor is to have high 
expectations for all American students as they progress through our 
nation's schools.
  Currently there are 50 different sets of academic standards, 50 State 
assessments, and 50 definitions of proficiency under the No Child Left 
Behind Act. As a result of varied standards, exams and proficiency 
levels, America's highly mobile student-aged population moves through 
the nation's schools gaining widely varying levels of knowledge, skills 
and preparedness. And yet, in order for the United States to compete in 
a global economy, we must strengthen our educational expectations for 
all American children--we must compete as one Nation.
  Recent international comparisons show that American students have 
significant shortcomings in math and science. Many lack the basic 
skills required for college or the workplace. This affects our economic 
and national security: It holds us back in the global marketplace and 
risks ceding our competitive edge. This is unacceptable.
  America was founded on the notion of ensuring equity in opportunity 
for all. And yet, we risk both when we allow different students in 
different states to graduate from high school with very different 
educations. We live

[[Page S11062]]

in a Nation with an unacceptably high high school dropout rate. We live 
in a nation where 8th graders in some states score more than 30 points 
higher on tests of basic science knowledge than students in other 
states. I ask my colleagues today what equality of opportunity we have 
under such circumstances.
  This is where American standards come in. Voluntary, core American 
standards in math and science are the first step in ensuring that all 
American students are given the same opportunity to learn to a high 
standard no matter where they reside. They will allow for meaningful 
comparisons of student academic achievement across states, help ensure 
that American students are academically qualified to enter college, or 
training for the civilian or military workforce, and, help ensure that 
students are better prepared to compete in the global marketplace. 
Uniform standards are a first step in maintaining America's competitive 
and national security edge.
  While I realize there will be resistance to such efforts, education 
is after all a state endeavor; we cannot ignore that at the end of the 
day America competes as one country on the global marketplace. This 
does not mean that I am asking States to cede their authority in 
education. What the bill simply proposes is that we the convening power 
of the federal government to develop standards and then provide states 
with incentives to adopt them.
  At the end of the day, this is a voluntary measure. States will 
choose whether or not to participate. States that do participate, while 
required to adopt the American standards, will be given the flexibility 
to make them their own. They will have the option to add additional 
content requirements, they will have final say in how coursework is 
sequenced, and, ultimately, States and districts will still be the ones 
developing the curriculum, choosing the textbooks and administering the 
tests. The standards provided for under this legislation will simply 
serve as a common core.
  Here is what the SPEAK Act will do. It will task the National 
Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) with creating rigorous and voluntary 
core American education content standards in math and science for 
grades K-12. It will require that such standards be anchored in the 
National Assessment of Educational Progress' (NAEP) math and science 
frameworks. It will ensure that such standards are internationally 
competitive and comparable to the best standards in the world. It will 
develop rigorous achievement levels. It will ensure that varying 
developmental levels of students are taken into account in the 
development of such standards. It will provide for periodic review and 
update of such standards. It will allow participating States the 
flexibility to add additional standards to the core. And, it 
establishes an American standards Incentive Fund to incentivize states 
to adopt the standards. Among the benefits of participating is a huge 
infusion of funds for states to bolster their K-12 data systems.
  What I propose today is a first step. A first step in regaining our 
competitive edge. A first step in ensuring that all American students 
have the opportunity to receive a first class, high-quality, 
competitive education. I am hoping that the bill I introduce today will 
at the very least spark a discussion. A discussion about what it is 
that we want for future generations and how we will set along the path 
to get it to them.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting the SPEAK Act 
and look forward to resuming the discussion and reintroducing this 
important initiative in the coming Congress.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 4061

       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 ``Standards to Provide 
     Educational Access for Kids Act'' or the ``SPEAK Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Throughout the years, educators and policymakers have 
     consistently embraced standards as the mechanism to ensure 
     that every student, no matter what school the student 
     attends, masters the skills and develops the knowledge needed 
     to participate in a global economy.
       (2) Recent international comparisons make clear that 
     students in the United States have significant shortcomings 
     in mathematics and science, yet a high level of scientific 
     and mathematics literacy is essential to societal innovations 
     and advancements.
       (3) With more than 50 different sets of academic content 
     standards, 50 State academic assessments, and 50 definitions 
     of proficiency under section 1111(b) of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)), there is 
     great variability in the measures, standards, and benchmarks 
     for academic achievement in mathematics and science.
       (4) Variation in State standards and the accompanying 
     measures of proficiency make it difficult for parents and 
     teachers to meaningfully gauge how well their children are 
     learning mathematics and science in comparison to their peers 
     internationally or here at home.
       (5) The disparity in the rigor of standards across States 
     results in test results that tell the public little about how 
     schools are performing and progressing, as States with low 
     standards or low proficiency scores may appear to be doing 
     much better than States with more rigorous standards or 
     higher requirements for proficiency.
       (6) As a result, the United States' highly mobile student-
     aged population moves through the Nation's schools gaining 
     widely varying levels of knowledge, skills, and preparedness.
       (7) In order for the United States to compete in a global 
     economy, the country needs to strengthen its educational 
     expectations for all children.
       (8) To compete, the people of the United States must 
     compare themselves against international benchmarks.
       (9) Grounded in a real world analysis and international 
     comparisons of what students need to succeed in work and 
     college, rigorous and voluntary core American education 
     content standards will keep the United States economically 
     competitive and ensure that the children of the United States 
     are given the same opportunity to learn to a high standard no 
     matter where they reside.
       (10) Rigorous and voluntary core American education content 
     standards in mathematics and science will enable students to 
     succeed in academic settings across States while ensuring an 
     American edge in the global marketplace.

     SEC. 3. ASSESSING SCIENCE IN THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF 
                   EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

       (a) National Assessment of Educational Progress 
     Authorization Act.--Section 303 of the National Assessment of 
     Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9622) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``reading and 
     mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, mathematics, and 
     science'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``reading and 
     mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, mathematics, and 
     science'';
       (iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``science,'';
       (iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``reading and 
     mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, mathematics, and 
     science'';
       (B) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``reading and 
     mathematics'' each place the term occurs and inserting 
     ``reading, mathematics, and science''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ``reading and 
     mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, mathematics, and 
     science''; and
       (C) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``, require, or 
     influence'' and inserting ``or require''; and
       (2) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``reading and 
     mathematics'' each place the term occurs and inserting 
     ``reading, mathematics, and science''.
       (b) Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.--
     Subpart 1 of part A of title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 1111(c)(2) (20 U.S.C. 6311(c)(2))--
       (A) by inserting ``(and, for science, beginning with the 
     2007-2008 school year)'' after ``2002-2003''; and
       (B) by striking ``reading and mathematics'' and inserting 
     ``reading, mathematics, and science''; and
       (2) in section 1112(b)(1)(F) (20 U.S.C. 6312(b)(1)(F)), by 
     striking ``reading and mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, 
     mathematics, and science''.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 304 of the National Assessment of Educational 
     Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9623) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``In 
     this title:'' and inserting ``Except as otherwise provided, 
     in this title:'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of Education.''.

[[Page S11063]]

     SEC. 5. VOLUNTARY AMERICAN EDUCATION CONTENT STANDARDS; 
                   AMERICAN STANDARDS INCENTIVE FUND.

       The National Assessment of Educational Progress 
     Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9621 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 304 (as amended by section 4) 
     and 305 as sections 306 and 307, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 303 the following:

     ``SEC. 304. CREATION AND ADOPTION OF VOLUNTARY AMERICAN 
                   EDUCATION CONTENT STANDARDS.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of the Standards to Provide Educational Access for 
     Kids Act and from amounts appropriated under section 
     307(a)(3) for a fiscal year, the Assessment Board shall 
     create and adopt voluntary American education content 
     standards in mathematics and science covering kindergarten 
     through grade 12.
       ``(b) Duties.--The Assessment Board shall implement 
     subsection (a) by carrying out the following duties:
       ``(1) Create and adopt voluntary American education content 
     standards for mathematics and science covering kindergarten 
     through grade 12 that reflect a common core of what students 
     in the United States should know and be able to do to compete 
     in a global economy.
       ``(2) Anchor the voluntary American education content 
     standards based on the mathematics and science frameworks and 
     the achievement levels under section 303(e) of the National 
     Assessment of Educational Progress for grades 4, 8, and 12.
       ``(3) Ensure that the voluntary American education content 
     standards are internationally competitive and comparable to 
     the best standards in the world.
       ``(4) Review State standards in mathematics and science as 
     of the date of enactment of the Standards to Provide 
     Educational Access for Kids Act and consult and work with 
     entities that are developing, or have already developed, such 
     State standards.
       ``(5) Review the reports, views, and analyses of a broad 
     spectrum of experts and the public as such reports, views, 
     and analyses relate to mathematics and science education, 
     including reviews of blue ribbon reports, exemplary practices 
     in the field, and recent reports by government agencies and 
     professional organizations.
       ``(6) Ensure that the voluntary American education content 
     standards reflect the best thinking about the knowledge, 
     skills, and competencies needed for a high degree of 
     scientific and mathematical understanding.
       ``(7) Ensure that varying developmental levels of students 
     are taken into account in the development of the voluntary 
     American education content standards.
       ``(8) Ensure that the voluntary American education content 
     standards reflect what students will be required to know and 
     be able to do after secondary school graduation to be 
     academically qualified to enter an institution of higher 
     education or training for the civilian or military workforce.
       ``(9) Widely disseminate the voluntary American education 
     content standards for public review and comment before final 
     adoption.
       ``(10) Provide for continuing review of the voluntary 
     American education content standards not less often than once 
     every 10 years, which review--
       ``(A) shall solicit input from outside organizations and 
     entities, including--
       ``(i) 1 or more professional mathematics or science 
     organizations;
       ``(ii) the State educational agencies that have received 
     American Standards Incentive Fund grants under section 305 
     during the period covered by the review; and
       ``(iii) other organizations and entities, as determined 
     appropriate by Assessment Board; and
       ``(B) shall address issues including--
       ``(i) whether the voluntary American education content 
     standards continue to reflect international standards of 
     excellence and the latest developments in the fields of 
     mathematics and science; and
       ``(ii) whether the voluntary American education content 
     standards continue to reflect what students are required to 
     know and be able to do in science and mathematics after 
     graduation from secondary school to be academically qualified 
     to enter an institution of higher education or training for 
     the civilian or military workforce, as of the date of the 
     review.

     ``SEC. 305. THE AMERICAN STANDARDS INCENTIVE FUND.

       ``(a) Establishment of Fund.--From amounts appropriated 
     under section 307(a)(4) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
     shall establish and fund the American Standards Incentive 
     fund to carry out the grant program under subsection (b).
       ``(b) Incentive Grant Program Authorized.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the 
     Assessment Board adopts the voluntary American education 
     content standards under section 304, the Secretary shall use 
     amounts available from the American Standards Incentive fund 
     to award, on a competitive basis, grants to State educational 
     agencies to enable each State educational agency to adopt the 
     voluntary American education content standards in mathematics 
     and science as the core of the State's academic content 
     standards in mathematics and science by carrying out the 
     activities described in subsection (e).
       ``(2) Duration and amount.--A grant under this subsection 
     shall be awarded--
       ``(A) for a period of not more than 4 years; and
       ``(B) in an amount that is not more than $4,000,000 over 
     the period of the grant.
       ``(c) Core Standards.--A State educational agency receiving 
     a grant under subsection (b) shall adopt and use the 
     voluntary American education content standards in mathematics 
     and science as the core of the State academic content 
     standards in mathematics and science. The State educational 
     agency may add additional standards to the voluntary American 
     education content standards as part of the State academic 
     content standards in mathematics and science.
       ``(d) State Application.--A State educational agency 
     desiring to receive a grant under subsection (b) shall submit 
     an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
     The application shall include--
       ``(1) timelines for carrying out each of the activities 
     described in subsection (e)(1); and
       ``(2) a description of the activities that the State 
     educational agency will undertake to implement the voluntary 
     American education content standards in mathematics and 
     science adopted under section 304, and the achievement levels 
     in mathematics and science developed under section 303(e) for 
     the national and State assessments of the National Assessment 
     of Educational Progress, at both the State educational agency 
     and local educational agency levels, including any additional 
     activities described in subsection (e)(2).
       ``(e) Use of Funds.--
       ``(1) Mandatory activities.--A State educational agency 
     receiving a grant under subsection (b) shall use grant funds 
     to carry out all of the following:
       ``(A) Adopt the voluntary American education content 
     standards in mathematics and science as the core of the 
     State's academic content standards in mathematics and science 
     not later than 2 years after the receipt of a grant under 
     this section.
       ``(B) Align the teacher certification or licensure, pre-
     service, and professional development requirements of the 
     State to the voluntary American education content standards 
     in mathematics and science not later than 3 years after the 
     receipt of the grant.
       ``(C) Align the State academic assessments in mathematics 
     and science (or develop new such State academic assessments 
     that are aligned) with the voluntary American education 
     content standards in mathematics and science not later than 4 
     years after the receipt of the grant.
       ``(D) Align the State levels of achievement in mathematics 
     and science with the student achievement levels in 
     mathematics and science developed under section 303(e) for 
     the national and State assessments of the National Assessment 
     of Educational Progress.
       ``(2) Permissive activities.--A State educational agency 
     receiving a grant under subsection (b) may use the grant 
     funds to carry out, at the local educational agency or State 
     educational agency level, any of the following activities:
       ``(A) Train teachers and administrators on how to 
     incorporate the voluntary American education content 
     standards in mathematics and science into classroom 
     instruction.
       ``(B) Develop curricula and instructional materials in 
     mathematics or science that are aligned with the voluntary 
     American education content standards in mathematics and 
     science.
       ``(C) Develop performance standards in mathematics or 
     science to accompany the voluntary American education content 
     standards in mathematics and science.
       ``(D) Conduct other activities needed for the 
     implementation of the voluntary American education content 
     standards in mathematics and science.
       ``(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section the 
     Secretary shall give priority to a State educational agency 
     that will use the grant funds to carry out all of the 
     activities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 
     paragraph (2).
       ``(f) Award Basis.--In determining the amount of a grant 
     under subsection (b), the Secretary shall take into 
     consideration--
       ``(1) the extent to which a State's academic content 
     standards, State academic assessments, levels of achievement 
     in mathematics and science, and teacher certification or 
     licensure, pre-service, and professional development 
     requirements, must be revised to align such State standards, 
     assessments, levels, and teacher requirements with the 
     voluntary American education content standards adopted under 
     section 304 and the achievement levels in mathematics and 
     science developed under section 303(e); and
       ``(2) the planned activities described in the application 
     submitted under subsection (d).
       ``(g) Annual State Educational Agency Reports.--A State 
     educational agency receiving a grant under subsection (b) 
     shall submit an annual report to the Secretary demonstrating 
     the State educational agency's progress in meeting the 
     timelines described in the application under subsection 
     (d)(1).
       ``(h) Grants for DoD and BIA Schools.--
       ``(1) Department of defense schools.--From amounts 
     available from the American Standards Incentive fund, the 
     Secretary, upon application by the Secretary of Defense, may 
     award grants under subsection (b) to the Secretary of Defense 
     on behalf of elementary schools and secondary schools 
     operated by the Department of Defense to enable

[[Page S11064]]

     the elementary schools and secondary schools to carry out the 
     activities described in subsection (e).
       ``(2) Bureau of indian affairs schools.--From amounts 
     available from the American Standards Incentive fund, the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Interior, 
     may award grants under subsection (b) to the Bureau of Indian 
     Affairs on behalf of elementary schools and secondary schools 
     operated or funded by the Department of the Interior to 
     enable the elementary schools and secondary schools to carry 
     out the activities described in subsection (e).
       ``(i) Study.--Not later than 2 years after the completion 
     of the first 4-year grant cycle for grants under this 
     section, the Commissioner for Education Statistics shall 
     carry out a study comparing the gap between the reported 
     proficiency on State academic assessments and assessments 
     under section 303 for State educational agencies receiving 
     grants under subsection (b), before and after the State 
     adopts the voluntary American education content standards in 
     mathematics and science as the core of the State education 
     content standards in mathematics and science.
       ``(j) Data Grant.--
       ``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts appropriated under 
     section 305(a)(4), the Secretary shall award, to each State 
     educational agency that meets the requirements of paragraph 
     (3), a grant to be used to enhance State data systems as such 
     systems relate to the requirements under part A of title I of 
     the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
       ``(2) Amount of grant.--A grant awarded to a State 
     educational agency under this subsection shall be in an 
     amount equal to 5 percent of the amount allocated to the 
     State under section 1122 of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6332). If the amounts 
     available from the American Standards Incentive fund are 
     insufficient to pay the full amounts of grants under 
     paragraph (1) to all State educational agencies, the 
     Secretary shall ratably reduce the amount of all grants under 
     this subsection.
       ``(3) Requirements.--In order to receive a grant under this 
     subsection, a State educational agency shall--
       ``(A) have received a grant under subsection (b); and
       ``(B) successfully demonstrate to the Secretary that the 
     State has aligned--
       ``(i) the State's academic content standards and State 
     academic assessments in mathematics and science, and the 
     State's teacher certification or licensure, pre-service, and 
     professional development requirements, with the voluntary 
     American education content standards in mathematics and 
     science; and
       ``(ii) the State levels of achievement in mathematics and 
     science for grades 4, 8, and 12, with the achievement levels 
     in mathematics and science developed under section 303(e) for 
     such grades.
       ``(4) Nature of grant.--A grant under this subsection to a 
     State educational agency shall be in addition to any grant 
     awarded to the State educational agency under subsection (b).
       ``(5) Limit on number of grants.--In no case shall a State 
     educational agency receive more than 1 grant under this 
     subsection.
       ``(k) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after 
     the date of enactment of the Standards to Provide Educational 
     Access for Kids Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
     Secretary shall report to Congress regarding the status of 
     all grants awarded under this section.
       ``(l) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
     be construed to establish a preferred national curriculum or 
     preferred teaching methodology for elementary school or 
     secondary school instruction.
       ``(m) Timeline Extension.--The Secretary may extend the 12-
     year requirement under section 1111(b)(2)(F) of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     6311(b)(2)(F)) by not more than 4 years for a State served by 
     a State educational agency that receives a grant under 
     subsection (b).
       ``(n) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) In general.--The terms `elementary school', `local 
     educational agency', `professional development', `secondary 
     school', `State', and `State educational agency' have the 
     meanings given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
       ``(2) Academic content standards.--The term `academic 
     content standards' means the challenging academic content 
     standards described in section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)).
       ``(3) Levels of achievement.--The term `levels of 
     achievement' means the State levels of achievement under 
     subclauses (II) and (III) of section 1111(b)(1)(D)(ii) of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     6311(b)(1)(D)(ii)(II), (III)).
       ``(4) State academic assessments.--The term `State academic 
     assessments' means the academic assessments for a State 
     described in section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)).''.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 307(a) of the National Assessment of Educational 
     Progress Authorization Act (as redesignated by section 5(1)) 
     (20 U.S.C. 9624(a)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated--
       ``(1) to carry out section 302, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding 
     fiscal year;
       ``(2) to carry out section 303, $200,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     succeeding fiscal year;
       ``(3) to carry out section 304, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding 
     fiscal year; and
       ``(4) to carry out section 305, $400,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     succeeding fiscal year.''.
                                 ______