Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for his thoughts and, quite frankly, I appreciate that this is really a part of our ongoing discussion; however, I respectfully disagree. I understand, Mr. Chairman, that some of my colleagues believe that such a strategy should be left to the States; however, it is critically important that we remember one fact: a child does not learn differently based on what State they live in. A State that fails to hold schools accountable hurts the students, even if their standards were approved by the General Assembly. Parents should not have to worry about their child getting an inferior education just because of the State that they live in, Mr. Chairman. While States like mine--the great Hoosier State of Indiana--are holding robust debates about assessments, we still do not have a clear strategy to address the needs of our students or our teachers. This amendment, Mr. Chairman, merely sets forth a plan to address the problems we are facing across the country and increase the likelihood that our students will receive a quality education. This is something for us to think about, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, while I believe that this amendment addresses a very important issue, it will not solve the wide array of programs with the underlying bill. This bill ignores the needs of students living in poverty, students with disabilities, and English language learners.…”