Jeff Bingaman: “I rise today to re-introduce legislation that I first introduced in 1999. This bill will establish much needed…”

“I rise today to re-introduce legislation that I first introduced in 1999. This bill will establish much needed accountability for our education system so that the taxpayers' investment in education is adequately protected and our children receive the best possible education. I am pleased to offer this bipartisan bill on behalf of myself and my colleague Senator Lugar. The provisions of this bill are also included in S. 7, introduced yesterday by Senator Daschle and 18 other senators. I think that we can all agree that greater accountability in our public schools is an imperative. I am encouraged that President Bush and our new Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, have both expressed a strong commitment to increased accountability and have implemented strong school accountability standards in Texas. I understand accountability is a central piece of the administration's proposal being released today. In 1994, we made some important changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. We created an accountability system for the program receiving most of the ESEA funds--the program, for disadvantaged students called the Title I program. This accountability framework--along with the Goals 2000 program--have driven the standards-based reform efforts across the nation. During the last 5 years, however, experience in many States has demonstrated that we must do more.…”