Thomas Sawyer: “I rise today in strong support of the conference report on H.R. 1804 and to congratulate my subcommittee and the full…”

“I rise today in strong support of the conference report on H.R. 1804 and to congratulate my subcommittee and the full committee chairman for the heavy lifting that this conference report represents. As many of my colleagues may know, this was a very difficult agreement to reach. I believe that it was worth all the effort that produced it. This conference report represents real change. With the passage and implementation of this proposal, for the first time in decades, education reform on the national level will be pulling in the same direction as the efforts underway in States and local communities across this country. This proposal encourages States to develop improved curricula tied to competitive standards. This is an invaluable organizing principle that will give all schools, all teachers and all students a common set of flexible goals. By endorsing this systemic approach to education reform we are stating our belief that all children can meet high expectations and develop the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind that we once expected only of our top students. This is a message of profound optimism for our Nation. We can achieve all of this and continue to preserve the rich diversity of educational decisionmaking on the local level. Meaningful education reform has been, and always will be, locally driven.”