Tom Carper: “I think the measure as it is being amended on the Senate floor is a significant improvement over what was offered in the…”

“I think the measure as it is being amended on the Senate floor is a significant improvement over what was offered in the House and approved by the House. It was a very close partisan vote. I think it passed by one vote. I appreciate the willingness of the other side to at least engage in what I think were good-faith discussions and negotiations. Among the problems we found with the legislation that came out of committee to the floor was that eligible participating students need not take the same tests that other District of Columbia students take. Most States around the country have adopted academic standards. Once academic standards are adopted, most States are developing tests to understand the students' progress in math or science or English or social studies or other subjects.”