Political Quotes

“I rise to speak in strong support of an amendment to this underlying bill that addresses resource equity in our Nation's schools. I am proud to have worked across party lines to join my colleagues in supporting this bipartisan amendment, particularly to have worked with Senators Kirk, Reed of Rhode Island, and Brown on this measure. It is an improvement to the long-overdue reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that we have been debating over the course of this week. The Every Child Achieves Act importantly focuses on ensuring that those students most in need have access to a high-quality education. It continues to ensure that title I funds flow to school districts where Federal support can make the greatest impact and the most difference. It requires States to report key information that will help us identify disparities such as per-pupil expenditures, school discipline, and teacher and educator quality. But I believe we must further strengthen those reporting requirements in order to fully ensure that the range of critical school resources--from quality teachers, to rigorous course work, to well-conditioned and equipped school facilities--is being equitably distributed among school districts in a given State. And we must require States to demonstrate how they will act to address disparities among schools.…”