Michelle Wu: “I support Ed-Flex because it provides local school districts with flexibility and freedom from unnecessary Federal…”

“I support Ed-Flex because it provides local school districts with flexibility and freedom from unnecessary Federal regulation. I also believe in assisting schools and school districts so that they have the resources to exercise that flexibility. Real flexibility, not the illusion of flexibility. That is why the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) and I are offering our amendment to the Ed-Flex bill. Basically, to put more education into Ed-Flex. Our amendment will establish an additional 6-year authorization to reduce class size by hiring 100,000 qualified teachers. Last year Congress made a downpayment on the administration's plan to hire 100,000 new teachers over a period of 7 years in order to reduce average class size to 18 students in grades 1 through 3. But that was only a downpayment. Unfortunately, the leadership of this House, when it comes time to provide for the remaining 6 years of class size reduction, is leaving school districts and education boards across America in budgetary limbo. They engage in the politics of parliamentary maneuver rather than passing this urgent priority.”