3 of 46 DOCUMENTS The Bulletin's Frontrunner December 19, 2001

Senate Passes Education Reform Bill.

SECTION: Washington News LENGTH: 4098 words ABC News (12/18, story 14, Jennings) reported last night, "And on Capitol Hill today, the Senate passed the most sweeping reform of education policy since 1965. The bill would spend up to $26 billion on kindergarten through high school and many children will now be tested every year and schools held accountable for the results." CBS (12/18, story 9, Rather) reported last night, "The US Senate voted final congressional approval today for the new education bill. The final compromise version authorizes 26 and a half billion dollars to improve public schools. Key provisions require annual math and reading tests for millions of students, plus tutoring and other help for those who need it. President Bush says he will sign this version into law." NBC (12/18, story 6, Brokaw) reported last night, "Also on the Hill today - a big win for the President on one of his top priorities - education reform. The Senate giving final approval to its plan to overhaul education with some compromises. It will mean more money for schools, more testing for students, and for some families, more choices." USA Today (12/19, Kiely) reports, "Bush plans an elaborate signing ceremony next month to thank a politically motley crew of conservatives and liberals who helped win final Senate passage Tuesday of a bill destined to bring sweeping change to the nation's public schools." The bill "represents a rare bipartisan achievement in a Congress whose members have agreed on little but their contempt for Osama bin Laden. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, lawmakers temporarily put aside political differences. But to complete the education bill, they had to work through them." USA Today also notes, "Key players in the negotiations included some of Washington's most pugnacious partisans. . Heading the list: Bush, who won the presidency by a historically narrow margin; Kennedy, a veteran Democrat who is viewed by friend and foe as his party's chief icon of liberalism; two House veterans, Reps. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and George Miller, DCalif.and Sen. Judd Gregg, R- N.H., whose quick change of a seating card may have been the key to getting the negotiations started." USA Today adds, "The supporting cast included first lady Laura Bush, who many say inspired her husband's intense interest in reforming education; a group of centrist Democrats who spurred their party to compromise; and Sen. Jim Jeffords, a former Republican whose midyear defection to become an independent awakened the GOP to the need for more school funding. They had to overcome profound ideological differences and personal mistrust. They also had to take political risks." CQ (12/18, Dlouhy) reported a "broad package of changes to federal education policy is expected to become law soon, after the Senate voted on Tuesday to clear the measure for President Bush's signature." The Senate vote "was 87-10, with six Democrats, three Republicans and Independent James M. Jeffords of Vermont voting against adopting the conference report on the bill (HR 1). The House adopted the report in a 381-41 vote on Dec. 13." Tuesday's vote "marks a major achievement for Bush, who made it one of his top domestic priorities. The measure is considered the biggest rewrite of education law since Congress enacted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965." The measure "aims to hold schools more accountable for student performance. Schools that fail to meet new state-defined standards for four consecutive years could face reorganization by state school officials. Students in grades three through eight would be tested every year in math and reading, starting in 2005." The AP (12/18, Toppo) reported Congress "gave final approval Tuesday to the major education overhaul sought by President Bush, providing more money for local school districts and insisting on higher achievement in return. For millions of students, it will mean new annual math and reading tests." The Senate vote, 87-10, "marked a final bipartisan flourish for the most sweeping overhaul of federal education programs since the Great Society more than three decades

ago. The House approved the bill last week on a vote of 381-41." Bush "hailed the vote on an issue he made a centerpiece of his campaign for the White House last year," and he "expects to sign the measure into law early next year during a bipartisan victory lap through the home districts of the legislation's chief sponsors, including Democrat Sen. Edward Kennedy, GOP Sen. Judd Gregg and Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio." The measure "gives states and school districts more freedom over how they spend federal dollars, but requires them to raise student achievement, monitor teacher quality and close the gap between poor and middle-class students -- and white and minority students." Reuters (12/18, Kenen) reported the Senate "on Tuesday passed a massive federal education bill, demanding significant and measurable improvement from low-performing schools and offering new assistance to the nation's neediest students." After months "of intense bipartisan negotiations, the 'No Child Left Behind Act' passed overwhelmingly by an 87-10 vote less than a week after the House of Representatives gave it similar bipartisan support." Several of "the 'no' votes were cast by senators dismayed that the legislation did not provide more money for special education." President Bush, who "made education reform and tax cuts the centerpieces of the domestic agenda for his first year in office, said in a statement that he will sign the measure into law early next year." Education Secretary Rod Paige "said the department already is working to make sure public schools actually implement the new programs." The New York (12/19, Schemo) reports, "The 87-to-10 vote capped a tumultuous year for the bill that began with President Bush's postinaugural unveiling of his education plan, continued through a springtime of wrangling over issues like how student progress would be measured and saw an intensified focus on reaching an agreement after the Sept. 11 attacks. The president plans to sign the bill into law in early January as a way of publicly signaling a return to domestic priorities, his aides say." The bill "brought convergence of not only Republicans and Democrats, but also one of the teachers unions. In a statement that was almost indistinguishable in parts from one on the Senate floor by Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, the ranking Republican on the Education Committee, Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said the legislation offered the framework for change." The Los Angeles Times (12/19, Anderson) reports, "Capping a yearlong debate on education reform, Tuesday's Senate vote of 87 to 10 and the House vote last week of 381 to 41 provided an overwhelming bipartisan blessing for legislation President Bush is eager to sign." The legislation "significantly expands the federal government's role in an education network that has long guarded the primacy of states, school boards, teachers and parents. In addition, it responds to stark disparities in a 53- million-student system that sends many public high school graduates to the world's best universities but too often allows others to drop out -- or to earn a diploma without becoming proficient in reading and mathematics." The Washington Times (12/19, Dinan) reports, "The bill passed 87-10, with six Democrats, three Republicans and one independent voting against it. It passed the House 381-41 last week, and President Bush said in a statement yesterday that he will sign the bill into law next year." Conservatives "are particularly pleased with a new option the bill gives to parents whose students attend a chronically failing school. Those parents would be able to send their child to afterschool tutoring, with the school system picking up at least part of the tab -- anywhere from $300 to $1,000, depending on the school district. Schools would have to approve the tutoring programs, but the bill allows for the services of private schools or professional tutors in addition to public schools. Conservatives view this as a testing ground for private schools to prove themselves worthy of full vouchers in the future, but both sides see it as a stick to encourage failing schools to do better." The Wall Street Journal (12/19, Kronholz) reports, "Although the bill limits how much money can be steered to tutoring, the White House and congressional Republicans expect the program to generate such demand that either more money will be diverted or schools will improve to prevent a drain on their funding. 'We are going to create a huge momentum,' said Sen. Judd Gregg (R., N.H.)." States also "will have to file overhaul plans for underperforming schools by spring, and must begin writing students tests that are linked to state learning goals and begin teacher training so they have qualified instructors in all classrooms in four years." But "while the bill lays down a precise timeline for the states, it is far from a guarantee of success." The Journal adds, "The last education bill, passed in 1994, also required states to set standards, test their students, report grades to the federal government and begin closing performance gaps between white and minority students. But few states have met even those standards, which are less demanding than those in the current bill." The Washington Post (12/19, Dewar) reports, "Bush, who made the issue a dominant feature of his campaign and a top priority for his first year in office, hailed passage of the bill and said he will sign it early next year." Democrats "praised Bush for making education a priority and for his willingness to compromise to get a bill." The Post notes, "The legislation, which many regard as the most far-reaching federal school measure since passage of the Elementary and Sec-

ondary Education Act in 1965, would require state-administered testing of every student in grades 3 through 8 in reading and mathematics, along with national testing of a smaller sample to provide a benchmark for assessing a school's performance." The Providence Journal-Bulletin (12/19, Borg) reports, "Local education leaders applauded President Bush's education bill, saying it sets high standards for all students, holds schools accountable for reaching those goals and promises to close the gap between privileged and disadvantaged students. The $26.5-billion education bill, approved by the Senate yesterday, contains the most sweeping policy changes since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act into law in 1965." Labor leaders, however, "were more critical of the measure, saying that it fails to provide adequate financing for special education, among other programs. 'What the bill has that's good is very, very good,' said Marcia Reback, president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals. 'But what it doesn't have is very, very bad.'" The Houston Chronicle (12/19, Markley, Masterson) reports, "The Senate gave final approval Tuesday to sweeping education reforms that largely mirror the way Texas tests students for academic achievement and holds schools accountable for results." The bill "was largely modeled after Texas standards for testing school achievement. Many states that do not currently test schools will now be required to make significant adjustments if they want to receive federal funds. In Texas, however, the bill will result in little change. The state test, a driving force in the Texas education system, will be used to monitor the academic performance of schools that receive federal funding -- known as Title 1. The state has been using the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills, or TAAS, but next school year that will change to the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS." Fox News (12/18, Angle) reported last night, "Though it was largely obscured by the war in Afghanistan and the fight over a stimulus, the President has accomplished one of his most cherished policy goals, an education reform bill." Fox News added, "The bill past the Senate by a vote 87-10, after passing the House last week, prompting the White House to read a statement of congratulations from the President." Fox News continued, "The controversial items in the bill were slowly whittled away over the month. So that by the end, it had broad support. Senator Kennedy thanked the President for making education the number one priority and praised the bill." Kennedy was shown saying, "To every parent, help is on the way. If your child is doing all right in school as a result of this legislation, they'll do better. If the child is failing in the school, help is on the way." Fox News noted, "Well, the White House was certainly pleased, though it had to give up private school vouchers early on. Aside from that, said one official, we got everything we wanted and more. In one provision that got little notice, Brit, students in 3,000 schools already designated as failing will immediately get access to such services as tutoring. And officials think that will be a strong reminder to other schools that this reform is real." The New York Post (12/19, Morris) reports, "The Senate yesterday agreed to President Bush's plan to massively rework education in America -- starting with new annual reading and math tests for millions of students." The Post notes, "The bill was the No. 1 piece of legislation Bush asked Congress to study this year and marks the largest shift in education policy since 1965." The Post adds, "Signing the bill will be bittersweet for Bush, who was forced to drop his school-voucher plan, on which he campaigned aggressively last year." The Post continues, "The bill would pump at least $200 million into New York state over the next six years, with most of that -- or at least $176 million -- going directly to the city. T he bill also includes measures -- drafted by [Sen. Hillary] Clinton -- designed to retain and recruit teachers and principals." The Hartford Courant (12/19, Lightman) reports, "Legislation approved by the Senate Tuesday will dramatically change the federal role in education for the first time since Lyndon Johnson's presidency, but that might not be enough change for some Connecticut lawmakers and school officials." The Courant continues, "The landmark education bill, which passed 87-10, will require annual student testing and set tough penalties for failing schools as part of an effort to refocus federal education policy toward helping poor children and districts." The Courant notes, "Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, DConn., who was instrumental in forging the bipartisan compromise that ended a prolonged impasse last week, saw the measure as 'going a long way in serving the neediest children.'" The New Haven Register (12/19, Baldor) reports, "The U.S. Senate handed President Bush a clear victory Tuesday, passing sweeping education reform that will require states to do more student testing and make schools more accountable for pupil performance." The Register adds, "Both Connecticut senators voted for the bill, although it falls short in one area that has been a particular concern for municipal officials and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd: funding for special education." The Register notes, "The bill.struck a compromise between Democrats who wanted substantially more funding for education, and Republicans who argued for greater spending flexibility and accountability. But while it authorizes

$26.5 billion for K-12 education, about $8 billion more than last year -- the money must first be approved in the education appropriations bill later this week." The Orlando Sentinel (12/19, Horvitz) reports, "Congress gave final approval Tuesday to the major education overhaul sought by President Bush, providing more money for local school districts and insisting on higher achievement in return. For millions of students, it will mean new annual math and reading tests." The Sentinel adds, "Bush hailed the vote on an issue he made a centerpiece of his campaign for the White House last year. The measure gives states and school districts more freedom over how they spend federal dollars." The Sentinel notes, "Florida is one of the few states that have little heavy lifting to do to conform to the president's accountability package." Kennedy, Boehner Say Bush Commitment Key To Passage. PBS (12/18, Newshour, Ifill) interviewed Sen. Edward Kennedy and Rep. John Boehner, who chaired the conference committee on the education bill. Boehner said, "The real key that kept us together was a commitment, commitment on the part of the President of the United States, a commitment on the part of Senator Kennedy, Senator Greg, Congressman Miller, and myself, along with our conferees to produce a real legislative package that would help the neediest of our children, and both the executive branch and the congressional branch worked closely together to forge this final package." Kennedy said it "was important" that President Bush made the bill his highest priority, adding, "Three years ago when we had this legislation before the United States Senate, we debated it for three weeks without being able to come to a conclusion, but the time was different this year, and I think the President deserves credit for it. I think Congressman Boehner and Judd Greg do and George Miller." Bill Called "A Breathtaking Intrusion" On States' Control. The New York Times (12/19, Rothstein) notes, "The education bill written largely by the White House and given final Congressional approval by the Senate yesterday is a breathtaking intrusion of the federal government on states' control of education. For two decades, policy makers have wanted to make schools more accountable. Some states have developed creative ways of using tests to tackle that complex challenge; others have weaker systems. But the new legislation seems to impose on every state a Texas-type model that may actually retard sensible accountability in some places." Nelson, Hagel And Jeffords Oppose Education Bill. The Lincoln Journal Star (12/19, Walton) reports, "Sens. Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson parted company with most of their Senate colleagues Tuesday, voting against enactment of a landmark education bill that they said was not in the best interests of Nebraska's schools. The measure imposes a cumbersome federal testing mandate that overrides Nebraska's successful student testing program, the senators said. And the bill fails to fulfill a long-standing federal funding commitment for special education services for children with disabilities, they declared. . Nelson, one of six Democratic dissenters, said President Bush's blueprint for national testing imposes another 'massive unfunded mandate on Nebraska' without raising the quality of education in its schools. . The bill 'makes it difficult and costly for Nebraska to continue its student testing program,' Hagel said. Furthermore, it provides 'limited flexibility to states and local districts as to how federal funds will be spent,' he said." The Washington Times (12/19, Boyer) reports, "Sen. James M. Jeffords of Vermont, who bolted the Republican Party this year in a dispute over education funding, voted against the education bill yesterday after failing to gain satisfaction from his new friends in the Democratic majority. Mr. Jeffords cast a 'no' vote -- his first against an education bill in his 25-year congressional career -- while Democratic leaders hailed the measure -- which passed 87-10 - as a landmark reform. 'To vote for this education bill as it now stands, I believe, is counterproductive, if not destructive,' he said. Then Mr. Jeffords went off to another book signing of his autobiographical 'My Declaration of Independence' at a local bookstore." Jeffords "quit the Republican Party in June to become an independent, single-handedly throwing control of the Senate to the Democrats. He had locked horns with the White House over his desire to increase special-education funding. The administration further angered Mr. Jeffords at the time by suggesting it would not renew the Northeast Dairy Compact, a program prized by Mr. Jeffords for the price supports it gives to Vermont dairy farmers." But "as the year ends, Republicans noted that Mr. Jeffords got neither his special-education funding nor, at the moment, renewal of the dairy compact." More Commentary. The Wall Street Journal (12/19) editorializes, "Now that Congress has finally passed an education bill, expect an overdose of hoopla at President Bush's signing. Expect a well-attended Rose Garden ceremony laden with bipartisan bonhomie, and expect lots of self- congratulatory superlatives from those present. Just don't expect all that much real educa-

tion reform to come out of the $26.4 billion No Child Left Behind Act." The Journal concludes, "In the end, the good news is that the No Child Left Behind Act forces every state to look at every student every year. If properly used to educate parents about lousy schools, that data could drive future reforms. Politically, however, the bill looks like a compromise in which the GOP traded more money -- an $8 billion increase in spending -- in return for a signing ceremony that will give it higher approval ratings on education. That's nice for Republicans, but it doesn't mean much for kids. States, not Washington, are still going to have to do the real reforming." The Denver Post (12/19) writes in an editorial, "The bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act passed yesterday provides extra dollars for schools -- but those dollars come at a price." The Post continues, "President Bush heralds his education reform bill for its 'unprecedented flexibility for states and school districts' and 'greater local control.'" The Post concludes, "Overall, however, the added money is a steep price to pay for district and states' loss of control over their schools." On CNN (12/18), Los Angeles Times columnist Ron Brownstein said, "This bill really is an important step, but it is only a first step. As you suggested, the heart of the bill is this new Federal requirement that every student is going to have to be tested every year in reading and math from third grade through eighth grade. And the goal here really is to create a demand for change. I think what we are going to see from the test is what we already know: That a lot of students and a lot of schools are not doing well. The goal here is to build a constituency for change in the schools, in the communities. Now, the bill gives them some tools to begin making those changes: More money for poor students, more precisely targeted, specific requirements for improving failing schools. But no one should have the illusion that this has all the steps that are going to have to be taken to get those test results up. There is a lot more that is going to have to be done probably at the Federal and certainly at the local level." CNN (12/18, Woodruff) interviewed Sen. Hillary Clinton who said the education bill "wasn't all that I wanted, or all that I think that the children of our country need. But it was a step forward in the right direction, because we were able to target the money, called Title 1 funds, more effectively for the poorest of our children in the highest need districts. And you know, that's really important for a state like New York, because we have a lot of cities, from New York to Buffalo, that, you know, are really trying to educate children who have a lot of needs when they walk in the door." Asked about reports she and other senators urged Sen. Kennedy not to proceed with the bill unless the White House was willing to provide more special education funding, Clinton said, "I believe that we should have both high standards and more resources. And that will give us the kind of results that we need from our school system. And I think we made some real progress. We got more money than initially was offered by the Administration. What we were particularly concerned about, though, in the weeks leading up to this vote, is the failure to support the Senate bipartisan commitment to fully fund special education. I was very proud of the Senate that we did, during the education debate, pass an amendment which made very clear that, finally, the government was going to support local districts in the very big expense of paying for special ed. Unfortunately, the House and the Administration did not go along with the Senate's bill." LOAD-DATE: December 19, 2001 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH Copyright 2001 Bulletin Broadfaxing Network, Inc.