[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 559]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    IMPROVING SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise first to speak about one of the 
critical pieces of education legislation that the Congress is scheduled 
to consider this year. I believe we have wide agreement, now, on the 
need to increase school accountability, with new systems that will put 
real teeth into improving school performance for all students, and 
school districts, and for each State.
  I have spoken for several years, now, about the need to improve 
school accountability. I introduced school accountability legislation 
in 1999. President Bush has spoken frequently about it. His new 
Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, whom we confirmed on Saturday, has 
spoken about its importance.
  I believe there is strong support from those colleagues, both 
Democrat and Republican, on the HELP committee. The provisions that we 
developed this last year to ensure accountability are included in S. 7, 
which Senator Daschle introduced yesterday.
  In addition, I am introducing later today a bipartisan bill which 
contains those same accountability provisions. I am very pleased that 
my colleague and friend, Senator Lugar from Indiana, has joined me as a 
cosponsor of that bill. This will be a bipartisan effort which will 
demonstrate the bipartisan nature of these proposals.
  These accountability provisions demand results of all students so the 
existing achievement gaps between minority and nonminority students, 
between poor and wealthier students, between limited English and 
English-speaking students, are eliminated and they are eliminated at 
the individual school level, at the school district level, and at the 
State level.
  Mr. President, I do believe there is now widespread consensus on the 
need for rigorous school accountability in key areas that are addressed 
in this bill that Senator Lugar and I are introducing.
  The bill establishes aggressive performance objectives for all 
students that are linked to each school's standards and assessments. It 
directs resources to the students and objectives most in need. It 
provides for significant consequences for failure so that States and 
school districts must take full responsibility for turning around those 
schools that have chronically failed to adequately educate the students 
in the schools.
  Our bill provides maximum flexibility for educators to develop 
strategies to meet the basic goals of school improvement, and it 
ensures that every class have a fully qualified teacher. The bill 
provides an expanded role for parents. Finally, the bill provides new 
funding for school improvement strategies that have been proven to 
work. These are strategies such as the Success for All Program, which 
Senator Lugar and I strongly support.
  I am very pleased that school accountability is finally getting the 
attention it deserves in Congress from both sides of the aisle. With 
widespread agreement now on the need for strong school accountability 
legislation--and sanctions for schools that do not live up to basic 
standards--I am very optimistic that this Congress can move quickly to 
develop a consensus package. I believe this bipartisan bill I referred 
to can serve as a starting point for working with the White House and 
with all colleagues on this vital area of meeting the needs of our 
schoolchildren.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, but I indicate I do want to speak 
as in morning business at some time after the majority leader speaks to 
pay tribute to our former colleague, Senator Cranston.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, point of clarification: Senator 
Bingaman was not suggesting that he would speak immediately after 
Senator Lott; is that correct?
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, in deference to the other people who are 
here and waiting, I will certainly wait until they conclude their 
statements.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Thank you, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the majority leader.
  Mr. LOTT. I thank the Senator from New Mexico for offering to yield 
time earlier.
  Mr. President, I ask that my time be taken from my leader time so it 
will not count against the time that was made available for this 
debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has that right.

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