JOHN LINDER: “For too long, our educational system has been handcuffed by the misguided ideas of Federal bureaucrats. For too long our…”

“For too long, our educational system has been handcuffed by the misguided ideas of Federal bureaucrats. For too long our children have been used as pawns in this political game. The time for that to end is now. It is time for us to stop the partisanship, to stop the bickering, and roll up our sleeves and get to work. We cannot, as a Nation, allow our children to become adults without the tools to succeed. The key to unlocking the powers of first-rate education is the freedom to make choices, giving parents the power to choose their children's education. Let us pass the Education Flexibility bill, which was announced just moments ago by the chairman of the committee. It will be on the floor this week. Let us pass the bill to allow the States to move past bureaucratic rules that actually inhibit success and bring new and innovative solutions to their classrooms. This bill will expand education flexibility to all 50 States. It will empower every school district to move past the bureaucracy and do what they believe is best to help their students learn. Let us return education decision-making to those who know what is best for America's students. We will find them in each student's community, not in Washington.”