Mitch Landrieu: “It is time that we in this country stop at the Federal level--and I hope we can encourage States and local governments…”

“It is time that we in this country stop at the Federal level--and I hope we can encourage States and local governments to stop--funding failure and start rewarding results and success. That is what this amendment does. This amendment will take the money otherwise spent by the distinguished Senator from Georgia and give $100,000 grants to all of the schools designated, and there are 250 so designated each year, as the most excellent schools in America. They are public; they are parochial; they are private. There have been 3,000 schools that have achieved this designation since this program started 10 years ago. It is currently operating this way. The schools are rigorously evaluated and 250 are chosen. They are invited to come to Washington. They are given a plaque and a pat on the back and they are basically sent home.”