Political Quotes

“the whole issue of funding is very important. It is very clear to everybody in this Chamber that we have not sufficiently funded title I, especially if we are to focus on eliminating the achievement gap. In fact, after the bill passes, we will require our States to engage in assessments so we can make the diagnosis and understand better why, after 35 years, $150 billion, and over 200 programs, we continue to fail the disadvantaged. We have failed to eliminate or even diminish that achievement gap. In fact, we have done just the opposite. That achievement gap has increased over time. The President of the United States has pointed that out again and again. That is our charge: to have measurable results, linked with the freedom of innovation and the best of what America is all about to address this fundamental problem. Title I is the cornerstone of the Federal involvement in focusing on the disadvantaged in this country. It is a monument, in many ways, to our commitment as a nation to boost the academic performance of disadvantaged children and to close that gap between rich and poor youngsters. It is not because of a lack of good intentions; we have a litany of programs that are out there today--some have been funded fully and some have been inadequately funded--but we have failed the disadvantaged in this country. Title I is not accomplishing its purpose today.”