Thomas E. Petri: “H.R. 6, Improving America's Schools Act, reauthorizes and amends most of the Federal Government's programs of aid for…”

“H.R. 6, Improving America's Schools Act, reauthorizes and amends most of the Federal Government's programs of aid for elementary and secondary education. This legislation will affect virtually every public school in the country and has the potential to be a powerful tool for education reform. The Committee on Education and Labor has spent more than a year in considering this legislation and, for the most part, the process has been bipartisan. I am pleased that the title I funding formula authored by the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee] and myself, and passed in committee by a vote of 40 to 2 is included in this legislation. I believe this formula is fair and equitable to all regions of the country. This formula ensures that disadvantaged children, in both urban and rural areas, will continue to receive the Federal assistance they need. The Kildee-Petri consensus formula consists of two parts. The first part, for money up to the fiscal year 1994 level is based on current law. However, targeting is increased by calculating these grants at the local education agency level rather than by county as is currently the case. In addition, the poverty estimates used for the calculation of these grants will be updated biennially, as opposed to decennially as is currently the case. This will help reduce the drastic funding shifts which have occurred in this program following each census.”