Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 6, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization. This important piece of legislation, along with the Goals 2000 bill, links Federal education aid to high standards for achievement, to accountability, and to consequences for poor performance. Experience has shown that without that kind of framework, all the money in the world won't improve our troubled education system. Of course, adequate resources are a crucial piece of school reform. Dilapidated school buildings, inadequate teacher salaries, and outdated textbooks are all barriers to student achievement. We should spend more Federal money on education than we do, which is one feature of H.R. 6. But meeting our national education goals will take more than money. It requires Federal policies that require performance and hold States, school districts, and schools accountable for results. Federal education programs were designed to augment State and local investments, and encourage certain education priorities at the State and local level.”