On the recordJuly 9, 2015
the academic partnerships lead us to success amendment--also called A-PLUS--gives States greater flexibility in allocating Federal education funding and ensuring academic achievement. Here is what it does. States would be allowed to obtain Federal education funding in the form of block grants. States would submit a declaration of intent to the Department of Education to consolidate Federal education programs and funding and redirect sources toward State-directed education reform initiatives. What this does is allow State and local leaders to exercise greater control over the use of Federal education funds to address the needs of local students and target scarce resources to areas of highest need. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in empowering our schools to serve their students, not DC Democrats, and support this important amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.
