[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
        Kerry, Mr. Begich, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
        Menendez, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Casey, Mr. Lautenberg, Ms. 
        Stabenow, Mrs. McCaskill, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
        Akaka, Mr. Schumer, and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 7. A bill to expand educational opportunities for all Americans by 
increasing access to high-quality early childhood education and after 
school programs, advancing reform in elementary and secondary 
education, strengthening mathematics and science instruction, and 
ensuring that higher education is more affordable, and for other 
purposes; read the first time.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                  S. 7

       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 ``Education Opportunity Act of 
     2009''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives should pass, and the President should sign 
     into law, legislation to expand educational opportunities for 
     all Americans by--
       (1) increasing access to high-quality early childhood 
     education and expanding child care, after school, and 
     extended learning opportunities;
       (2) improving accountability and assessment measures for 
     elementary and secondary school students, increasing 
     secondary school graduation rates, and supporting elementary 
     and secondary school improvement efforts;
       (3) strengthening teacher preparation, induction, and 
     support in order to recruit and retain qualified and 
     effective teachers in high-need schools;
       (4) enhancing the rigor and relevance of State academic 
     standards and encouraging innovative reform at the middle and 
     high school levels;
       (5) strengthening mathematics and science curricula and 
     instruction; and
       (6) increasing Federal grant aid for students and the 
     families of students, improving the rate of postsecondary 
     degree completion, and providing tax incentives to make 
     higher education more affordable.
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