Political Quotes

“I accept that point. We do. My point being, my amendment has been called intrusive. Because I have suggested that the States be accountable and responsible, it is said that I am proposing a new Federal intrusion into what has historically been a local and State decisionmaking process. Yet, as my colleague from New Hampshire has pointed out, we already mandate tests. And, this bill mandates even more tests. We also mandate standards for teachers at the local level. We are going to tell school districts that if schools do not perform at a certain level, we, the Federal Government, will require them to close the school. We require the States to establish statewide content and performance standards, and tests that are the same for all children in the State. The point is, we are mandating decisions at the local level. Down to the level of detail of telling third graders, and their parents, when they will be taking tests. My amendment says that if we are going to ask for accountability and responsibility from students, parents, school principals, teachers, and school boards, is it unreasonable to ask States to be accountable? Since 1965, we have mandated comparable educational opportunity for students within school districts. This amendment simply says that there should be comparable educational opportunity throughout the State.”