[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 105 (Monday, July 22, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          STUDENT SUCCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5) to 
     support State and local accountability for public education, 
     protect State and local authority, inform parents of the 
     performance of their children's schools, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5, a bill that 
would take our education system backward instead of into the future.
  K-12 education is my passion, and it has been for a long time. In 
fact, public education issues are what first led me to run for public 
office. Education is key to rebuilding our economy, to sustaining and 
improving the quality of life in our communities, and to the 
functioning of our government and democracy. We are in dire need of 
long-term thinking about how we can strengthen our public schools.
  The policies in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 
especially those put into law by No Child Left Behind, need a serious 
overhaul. The intent of NCLB was laudable: make sure that all students 
in America's public schools are getting a good education and aren't 
falling through the cracks. Unfortunately, the law has resulted in an 
overemphasis on high stakes testing, drastic penalties for low-
performing schools, and an imbalanced focus on subjects that are tested 
at the expense of a well-rounded curriculum. Additionally, the NCLB 
provisions that prescribe a ``one size fits all'' approach with 
mandates and restrictions have undermined the teaching profession.
  I am extremely disappointed that this reauthorization is moving 
forward in a rushed manner after only one perfunctory hearing. One of 
the main reasons I came to Congress was to work with all my colleagues 
from both sides of the aisle on finding the best policies to ensure 
that public schools provide all students, regardless of socioeconomic 
status, with a well-rounded education that prepares them for whatever 
their future may hold. But this reauthorization has not been given full 
and fair consideration by the Education and Workforce Committee, and 
the result is a bill that has little, if any, chance of becoming law. 
That's not only disappointing; it's detrimental to students across this 
great country. They deserve better.
  H.R. 5 is alarming for a number of reasons. Its massive block grant 
approach would impede educational equity and make it more likely that 
students will receive educational opportunities based on where they 
live and the income of their parents. This, combined with the removal 
of Maintenance of Effort provisions and cuts to McKinney-Vento funding 
for homeless students, will result in thousands, if not millions, of 
fewer students having access to quality education.
  I am also extremely concerned about H.R. 5's woefully inadequate 
funding. A strong system of education is critical to the success of our 
country and funding it should be a priority. Instead of taking money 
away from schools, especially those serving the lowest-income students, 
we should be investing in their improvement.
  One important change that's needed to strengthen public education is 
to move away from high-stakes testing and allow states and school 
districts to use multiple measures in assessment, including adaptive 
testing and formative assessments. School performance should be 
measured in multiple ways, using multiple subjects and indicators. 
Additionally, teacher evaluations need to be improved and necessary 
support, including mentoring, given to teachers and school leaders. 
Though more work is always needed, Ranking Member Miller's substitute 
amendment to H.R. 5 makes these improvements and more. I am proud to 
support it.
  The substitute amendment also takes an important step forward with 
its comprehensive program for STEM education. One of the most exciting 
provisions in this program is the recognition of the value of arts and 
design to STEM learning, adding an ``A'' to make STEAM. Enhancing STEM 
through the arts and design will engage more students in school while 
helping them develop into innovative critical thinkers. Employers 
aren't looking for good test-takers; they want people who can create, 
communicate, and collaborate. The provisions recognizing the importance 
of the arts and design in STEM will give our students the skills they 
need to be competitive in the workforce.
  It's also important to recognize the benefits of a well-rounded, 
whole child approach to education. Students must be healthy, safe, 
engaged, supported, and challenged at school to reach their full 
potential. Subjects like civics, physical education, and second 
languages lead to the development of well-rounded students who become 
productive and innovative adults. A well-rounded education gives 
students a greater diversity of skills, increases their engagement with 
subject material, and helps keeps them in school. The Democratic 
substitute makes significant strides toward achieving these goals.
  I am also pleased that Ranking Member Miller's substitute addresses 
many other shortcomings in our education system, including the flawed 
practice of seclusion and restraint, background checks for staff and 
contractors with access to children, standards for concussion safety, 
and meaningful funding levels for homeless students.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to invest in our students, our 
teachers, and our schools, and to oppose H.R. 5 so we can return to a 
full and thorough consideration of our federal education policies.

                          ____________________