James M. Jeffords: “First, Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator from Massachusetts. We have been working with him on the questions of…”

“First, Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator from Massachusetts. We have been working with him on the questions of accountability. I am hopeful that we will reach agreement on an amendment, which he may propose, so that we will not have issues in that regard. I point out that the substitute amendment which I offered today includes many improvements with respect to accountability over the bill that we passed last year out of committee 17-1. I will run through, very briefly, the areas where we have already improved the accountability and are still attempting to reach agreement with the minority. First, the substitute amendment I offered strengthens the accountability features already included in S. 280. It adds State application requirements relating to the coordination of the Education Flexibility plan with the State comprehensive reform plan, or with the challenging standards and assessment provisions of title I of the ESEA. This Managers Package adds emphasis that student performance is an objective of Ed-Flex. It adds provisions regarding annual performance reviews, by the State, of local educational agencies and schools which have received waivers, and reemphasizes the authority of the State to determine waivers if LEAs or schools are not meeting their goals. It also adds provisions of public notice and comment, and provisions requiring additional reporting by the secretary regarding his rationale for approving waiver authority and the use of that authority.”