[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      THE NEED FOR A MORE EQUITABLE ALLOCATION OF TITLE I FUNDING

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this week, I had the 
opportunity to join rural school advocates from across the country here 
in Washington for the release of the Why Rural Matters 2013-2014 
report, a biennial report from the Rural School and Community Trust 
which analyzes the state of rural education for communities in each of 
the 50 States.
  This important research document gives policymakers and the public 
fresh insight into the social and economic contexts that influence 
educational outcomes and also reinforces how these conditions must be 
better understood, including in the context of how the Federal 
Government allocates title I funding.
  Title I was initially created to offset the impacts of poverty on 
student learning. Unfortunately, the report shows once again that 
children receive preferential treatment based not only on their 
economic circumstances, but on the basis of their ZIP Code.
  Surely my colleagues on both sides of the aisle believe that all 
children are equal. Unfortunately, most are surprised to learn, as we 
were reminded again this week, this is not the case.
  I believe this body can do better, for our children deserve as much.

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