George Voinovich: “I would first like to express my appreciation to the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate's Health, Education…”

“I would first like to express my appreciation to the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate's Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee for accepting this important amendment to S. 1, the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act. Simply put, the amendment that I have offered will help protect the ability of school counselors, social workers, psychologists and others to receive professional development and training as determined by local school districts. Each of us in this body wants what's best for our Nation's children, and when it comes to their education, we want our schools and our educators to find ways to provide a first-class education for our children, to ensure their safety, and to help them develop their God-given talents so they may become upstanding, contributing members of our society. Nearly everyone agrees our schools need help, but not everyone agrees on which way is best. That is why we in the Senate have tried to put together this Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization bill that gives our states and localities the flexibility to do what is necessary to improve their schools. Part of educating, protecting, and preparing our students is seeing to it that they get the help they need to succeed in the classroom. That is why I offered this amendment to make pupil services personnel eligible to be recipients of title II professional development funds.”