It is hoped this bill will come to the House floor later this fall for a vote. Each voice is crucial, and we urge you to take a minute today to help us support this important legislation. Both the House and the Senate have voted on their respective appropriations bills for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the bill is currently being negotiated by the conference committee. Language in the House bill includes the Eisenhower professional development state grants as part of the new Teacher Empowerment Act, which is not yet law. But because the bill contains a block grant for the class size reduction program and school construction, President Clinton has said he will veto the bill.
Research needs to be conducted on a more scientific basis.
The bill would create the National Academy of Educational Research, Statistics, Evaluation, and Information. The National Center for Educational Research, the National Center for Program Evaluation and Development, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the National Center for Educational Information. The current federal education clearinghouses, including the Eisenhower Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education, would be streamlined into the National Center for Educational Information. The academy would also combine the funds currently going to the Regional Educational Labs, Comprehensive Centers, Regional Technology Centers, and a portion of the funds directed to the Eisenhower Math and Science Consortium. These funds would instead be directed through a regionally based grant program.