Nancy Kassebaum: “I rise today to offer my support for S. 1150, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Senate bill 1150 contains many of the…”

“I rise today to offer my support for S. 1150, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Senate bill 1150 contains many of the same basic elements as President Bush's America 2000 initiative and the Senate-passed version of S. 2 during the last Congress. For those of you who may be hearing opposition to this bill, let me tell you at the outset that this bill does not: federalize education, establish a national curriculum or school board; require that States adopt national standards or submit standards for Government approval; tie any other Federal education funds to compliance with Goals 2000 provisions; dictate to States how much they need to spend per pupil, how to license their teachers, the proper teacher-pupil ratio, which textbooks to use, et cetera; impose unfunded mandates on States; and mandate or encourage values-based education or the establishment of school-based clinics. This legislation reflects the bipartisan consensus of the Senate that fundamental education reform will be accomplished only by strengthening the connection between communities and their schools and by renewing the absolutely vital partnership among parents, teachers, and students. This legislation stresses the need to raise our standards and expectations for student performance. Students, I believe, are ready and willing to rise to this challenge.”