Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, about a year ago, President Clinton announced his proposal for a Federal test in fourth grade reading and eighth grade math, and the White House and the Department of Education relied upon a little-known program, the Fund for the Improvement of Education, for their authority. Yet, nowhere, nowhere in the Fund for the Improvement of Education is there specific or explicit authorization for the President's national tests in reading and math. Nor was the program ever intended as a justification for national tests. A few years ago, the predecessor to the Fund for the Improvement of Education specifically and explicitly provided for 'Optional Tests of Academic Excellence.' However, the majority at that time in 1994 changed all that. That testing language was purposely removed by Congress in the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. It is now clear that there is no current specific or explicit authority in the Fund for the Improvement of Education or any other statute for implementing the President's national tests. When the testing issue was put to vote last Congress, nearly 300 Members voted against national testing, including many Members from both sides of the aisle.”