    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [April 21, 1999]
    [Pages 590-591]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Congressional Action on Proposed Education Flexibility
    Partnership Legislation
    April 21, 1999

        I am pleased that a little more than a year after I proposed
    national ed-flex legislation to the Nation's Governors, an overwhelming
    majority in Congress has passed a solid ed-flex bill. I look forward to
    signing it without delay. This bill will offer States more flexibility
    in their use of Federal funding in exchange for demonstrated increases
    in student achievement.
        I am particularly pleased that the conference report strengthens
    accountability measures and preserves our effort to reduce class size in
    the

    [[Page 591]]

    early grades. The bipartisan work on this legislation shows we can and
    must work together to improve our Nation's schools.
        Now Congress can move on to the most important aspects of the
    Nation's education agenda: finishing the job of hiring 100,000 well-
    prepared teachers to reduce class size, passing my initiative to help
    build and modernize 6,000 public schools, and reauthorizing the
    Elementary and Secondary Education Act with my plan to hold States and
    school districts accountable for results.