Bill Lee: “my amendment would clarify that parents--not the Federal Government--are the primary educators of their children. It…”

“my amendment would clarify that parents--not the Federal Government--are the primary educators of their children. It would ensure that parents may allow their children to opt out of federally mandated tests. Now, the Senator from Tennessee, Mr. Alexander, is right that States should be free to make their own tests mandatory if they so choose. However, that is not what this bill allows. This bill mandates that States give these tests and requires them to get the content of such tests approved by the Secretary of Education. My amendment is silent on the question of State tests. It simply clarifies that tests mandated by this Congress are, in fact, voluntary, and that parents--not politicians or bureaucrats--will have the final say on whether individual children take Federal tests. It also ensures that the Federal Government cannot punish a State by restricting Federal funding for education should parents choose to opt out their children from these tests. Thank you. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.”