Jack Reed: “first, I will speak with respect to Senator Bingaman's amendment. Let me commend the Senator for his efforts not only…”

“first, I will speak with respect to Senator Bingaman's amendment. Let me commend the Senator for his efforts not only today but throughout his career in the Senate to ensure that accountability is a central part of Federal educational legislation. Senator Bingaman, in 1994, was one of the leaders in this body with respect to the issue of accountability. At that time, I was serving in the other body. Together we worked at the conference on accountability provisions in the 1994 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As a result of the efforts of Senator Bingaman and others, we were able, for the first time, to begin to focus significant attention on the issue of accountability. In fact, the 1994 reauthorization, together with Goals 2000 legislation, accelerated and encouraged a movement throughout the States to develop standards. Practically every State in the country today has standards. We now have the opportunity to begin measuring how well schools are doing. That is at the heart, I believe, of Senator Bingaman's approach today. We need not only to measure how well they are doing but then hold States and localities accountable for those results.”