Judd Gregg: “we have discussed at considerable length the educational issues that have been brought forward by the BEST bill, which…”

“we have discussed at considerable length the educational issues that have been brought forward by the BEST bill, which is the proposal that came out of the Health Committee I serve on, chaired by Senator Jeffords from Vermont, and ranking member Senator Kennedy from Massachusetts. We talked a lot about policy and the fact this bill moves the policy forward to try to reform our school systems in a number of ways. It does not necessarily go as far as some Members would like, but it is progress in areas which are in significant need of progress. I have had a chance to speak about the need for more choice, the need for basic themes such as being child centered, flexibility, has academic achievement as its goal especially for low-income kids, and it has accountability standards to make sure the academic standards are met. I have spoken on a number of specific issues such as how to deal with teachers, how it improves the capacity of local school districts to do more to get and keep good teachers and hire good teachers.”