III

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 186

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding reauthorizing the Elementary

and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 24, 1999

Mr. LOTT (for himself, Mr. GREGG, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr. THOMAS, and Mr.

FRIST) submitted the following resolution; which was ordered to be placed

on the calendar

SEPTEMBER 27, 1999

Considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding reauthorizing

the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

1 Whereas the fiscal year 2000 Senate Budget Resolution

2 increased education funding by $28,000,000,000 over

3 the next five years, and $82,000,000,000 over the

4 next ten years, and the Department of Education re5 ceived a net increase of $2,400,000,000 which doubles

6 the President’s requested increase;

7 Whereas compared to the President’s requested levels, the

8 Democratically controlled Congress’ appropriations
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1 for the period 1993 through 1995 reduced the Presi2 dent’s funding requests by $3,000,000,000, and since

3 Republicans took control of Congress, Federal edu4 cation funding has increased by 27 percent;

5 Whereas in the past three years, the Congress has in6 creased funding for Part B of Individuals with Dis7 abilities Education Act by nearly 80 percent, while the

8 Administration’s fiscal year 2000 budget only re9 quested a 0.07 percent increase which is less than an

10 adjustment for inflation, and Congress is deeply con11 cerned that while the Administration has provided

12 rhetoric in support of education of the disabled, the

13 Administration’s budget has consistently taken money

14 from this high priority program to fund new and un15 tested programs;

16 Whereas Congress is not only providing the necessary

17 funds, but is also reforming our current education

18 programs, and Congress recognizes that significant

19 reforms are needed in light of troubling statistics

20 indicating—

21 (1) 40 percent of fourth graders cannot read at

22 the most basic level;

23 (2) in international comparisons, United States

24 12th graders scored near the bottom in both mathe25 matics and science;
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1 (3) 70 percent of children in high poverty

2 schools score below even the most basic level of read3 ing; and

4 (4) in mathematics, 9 year olds in high poverty

5 schools remain two grade levels behind students in

6 low poverty schools;

7 Whereas earlier in 1999, the 106th Congress took the first

8 step toward improving our Nation’s schools by passing

9 the Education Flexibility and Partnership Act of

10 1999, which frees States and local communities to tai11 lor education programs to meet the individual needs

12 of students and local schools;

13 Whereas the 1999 reauthorization of the Elementary and

14 Secondary Education Act of 1965 will focus on in15 creasing student achievement by empowering prin16 cipals, local school boards, teachers and parents, and

17 the focus should be on raising the achievement of all

18 students;

19 Whereas Congress should reject a one-size-fits all ap20 proach to education, and local schools should have the

21 freedom to prioritize their spending and tailor their

22 curriculum according to the unique educational needs

23 of their children;

24 Whereas parents are the first and best educators of their

25 children, and Congress supports proposals that pro-
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1 vide parents greater control to choose unique edu2 cational opportunities to best meet their children’s

3 educational needs;

4 Whereas every child should have an exceptional teacher

5 in the classroom, and Congress supports efforts to re6 cruit, retrain, and retain high quality teachers;

7 Whereas quality instruction and learning can occur only

8 in a first class school that is safe and orderly;

9 Whereas Congress supports proposals that give schools the

10 support they need to protect teachers and students,

11 remove disruptive influences, and create a positive

12 learning atmosphere; and

13 Whereas success in education is best achieved when in14 struction focuses on basic academics and fundamental

15 skills, and students should no longer be subjected to

16 untried and untested educational theories of instruc17 tion, rather our Nation’s efforts should be geared to

18 proven methods of instruction: Now, therefore, be it

19 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that—

20 (1) this Congress has taken strong steps to re21 form our Nation’s educational system and allowed

22 States, local schools and parents more flexibility and

23 authority over their children’s education; and

24 (2) the reauthorization of the Elementary and

25 Secondary Education Act of 1965 will enable this
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1 Congress to continue its efforts to send decision

2 making back to States, local schools, and families.

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