Carolyn B. Maloney: “as a former teacher and school administrator, I am personally proud to participate in today's deliberations, as we…”

“as a former teacher and school administrator, I am personally proud to participate in today's deliberations, as we prepare to pass H.R. 6 and extend for another 5 years the authorization for most of the Federal elementary and secondary education programs. Many of us may have honest differences of opinion about the merits of specific provisions of this legislation. But on the whole, it is a landmark legislative package, the purpose of which is to help America's schools strive for excellence. I want to congratulate and thank Chairman Ford, Chairman Kildee, the committee members and staff for patiently crafting this comprehensive legislation, which is so crucial to America's future. There are many important features of this bill which will benefit millions of schoolchildren and teachers, in New York and throughout the country. The compensatory education provisions of title I, for example, will help disadvantaged children to achieve high levels of performance, and not just focus on remedial, low-level skills. I applaud the committee for its efforts to promote such a pursuit of excellence. I am also very impressed by the cost effectiveness of such title I programs. Studies have shown that spending $1 on such programs now can save at least $6 later, just by preventing students from having to repeat grades.”