`[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 186 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 285
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, and Mr. Coverdell) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was ordered to be placed on the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding reauthorizing the 
            Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Whereas the fiscal year 2000 Senate Budget Resolution increased education 
        funding by $28,000,000,000 over the next five years, and $82,000,000,000 
        over the next ten years, and the Department of Education received a net 
        increase of $2,400,000,000 which doubles the President's requested 
        increase;
Whereas compared to the President's requested levels, the Democratically 
        controlled Congress' appropriations for the period 1993 through 1995 
        reduced the President's funding requests by $3,000,000,000, and since 
        Republicans took control of Congress, Federal education funding has 
        increased by 27 percent;
Whereas in the past three years, the Congress has increased funding for Part B 
        of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by nearly 80 percent, 
        while the Administration's fiscal year 2000 budget only requested a 0.07 
        percent increase which is less than an adjustment for inflation, and 
        Congress is deeply concerned that while the Administration has provided 
        rhetoric in support of education of the disabled, the Administration's 
        budget has consistently taken money from this high priority program to 
        fund new and untested programs;
Whereas Congress is not only providing the necessary funds, but is also 
        reforming our current education programs, and Congress recognizes that 
        significant reforms are needed in light of troubling statistics 
        indicating--
            (1) 40 percent of fourth graders cannot read at the most basic 
        level;
            (2) in international comparisons, United States 12th graders scored 
        near the bottom in both mathematics and science;
            (3) 70 percent of children in high poverty schools score below even 
        the most basic level of reading; and
            (4) in mathematics, 9 year olds in high poverty schools remain two 
        grade levels behind students in low poverty schools;
Whereas earlier in 1999, the 106th Congress took the first step toward improving 
        our Nation's schools by passing the Education Flexibility and 
        Partnership Act of 1999, which frees States and local communities to 
        tailor education programs to meet the individual needs of students and 
        local schools;
Whereas the 1999 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 will focus on increasing student achievement by empowering 
        principals, local school boards, teachers and parents, and the focus 
        should be on raising the achievement of all students;
Whereas Congress should reject a one-size-fits all approach to education, and 
        local schools should have the freedom to prioritize their spending and 
        tailor their curriculum according to the unique educational needs of 
        their children;
Whereas parents are the first and best educators of their children, and Congress 
        supports proposals that provide parents greater control to choose unique 
        educational opportunities to best meet their children's educational 
        needs;
Whereas every child should have an exceptional teacher in the classroom, and 
        Congress supports efforts to recruit, retrain, and retain high quality 
        teachers;
Whereas quality instruction and learning can occur only in a first class school 
        that is safe and orderly;
Whereas Congress supports proposals that give schools the support they need to 
        protect teachers and students, remove disruptive influences, and create 
        a positive learning atmosphere; and
Whereas success in education is best achieved when instruction focuses on basic 
        academics and fundamental skills, and students should no longer be 
        subjected to untried and untested educational theories of instruction, 
        rather our Nation's efforts should be geared to proven methods of 
        instruction: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) this Congress has taken strong steps to reform our 
        Nation's educational system and allowed States, local schools 
        and parents more flexibility and authority over their 
        children's education; and
            (2) the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 will enable this Congress to continue its 
        efforts to send decision making back to States, local schools, 
        and families.
                                     





                                                       Calendar No. 285

106th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                              S. RES. 186

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

    Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding reauthorizing the 
            Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 24, 1999

                  Ordered to be placed on the calendar`