Political Quotes

“I am from Kentucky, which I believe is the only State that enacted whole school reform statewide, and I have talked for many, many times about the benefits of whole school reform. But I do not believe that it is something that we can enact at the Federal level and have it be effective. The truth is it is very difficult to enact at a State level so that it is effectively implemented by the schools in that State. The fact is schools succeed school by school. They succeed as they develop their own plans, address what their teachers and what the needs are of their students, what the talents are of their teachers and how they best can meet the needs of their students. When we have whole school reform, it requires a whole system of support. It requires a school to be able to overcome the provisions of the teacher contract. We cannot do that, Mr. Chairman, here tonight. We cannot do this at the Federal level because we see in this country that the responsibility for the organization and the efficient management of our schools is done in 50 States.”