Steve Daines: “as a fifth-generation Montanan and product of Montana public schools, I understand how important a first rate education…”

“as a fifth-generation Montanan and product of Montana public schools, I understand how important a first rate education is to our kids' future. By increasing local control of our schools and lessening the influence Washington bureaucrats, we can provide States with the flexibility needed to meet the unique needs of our students and communities. That is why I am introducing the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success, or A-PLUS, Act. By shifting control back to the states, individual and effective solutions can be created to address the multitude of unique challenges facing schools across the country. Through these ``laboratories of democracy,'' Americans can watch and learn how students can benefit when innovative reforms are implemented on the local level. The A-PLUS Act would give states greater flexibility in allocating federal education funding and ensuring academic achievement in their schools. With A-PLUS, States would be freed from unworkable teacher standards, Washington-knows-best performance metrics, and onerous Federal testing requirements that have failed to bring about promised improvements in academic achievement. States would be held accountable by parents and teachers because a bright light would shine directly on the decisions made by State capitals and local school districts. With freedom from Federal mandates comes more responsibility, transparency, and accountability on States.…”