Political Quotes

“This bill, if adopted, will require accountability of students because we will mandate a Federal test at the local level. It is Uncle Sam, the Federal Government, mandating a Federal test, a Federal standard. So accountability can be achieved at the student level. We demand accountability of the local school districts. And if those districts do not achieve a level of achievement or performance, then there is the danger of losing Federal dollars. We demand accountability of teachers in this bill. We are insisting upon certain standards of performance, Uncle Sam saying that teachers at the local level must perform at a certain level. In a sense, we are demanding accountability of parents by insisting that their children do better and that parents be involved. My point simply is this: We are demanding accountability of children, of parents, of teachers, of local school boards, of mayors, of schools themselves, and ourselves in a sense, but the one entity that escapes any accountability at all is States.”