HARKIN CALLS ON BUSH
TO LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND
Iowa Senator Unveils Education Action Plan to
Double America's Investment in Education Over 10 Years.
WASHINGTON --- U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) unveiled a major new plan to improve education in America over the next decade at a Capitol Hill news conference today. Harkin a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension and the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds education programs was joined by Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Paul Wellstone (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ).
"Today I am calling on President Bush to meet the goal he set during his campaign -- to leave no child behind," said Harkin. "Our country was founded on this ideal -- the ideal that no matter who you are, no matter where you're born, no matter how much money your parents have -- if you're willing to work hard and sacrifice, you can be a success. This is the American dream, and unfortunately, this dream is slipping away."
"It's slipping because our classrooms are overcrowded, our schools are crumbling, and our students don't have the educational opportunities from pre-school to college that they need to learn," said Harkin. "For years, we've been nibbling around the edges of solutions -- tweaking a program or two here, adjusting the funding there -- but we haven't even made a dent in real education reform."
Harkin's "Leave No Child Behind" plan for education sets the following five goals for the next decade:
All children will start school ready to learn. Head Start for all eligible 3 and 4 year olds. Quality programs for very young children through the Early Learning Opportunities Act.
All students will be educated by a highly qualified teacher in a classroom that is not overcrowded and in a district where administrators and board members have a passion for learning. Increase by sixfold our commitment to professional development to give teachers the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills they need. Reduce class sizes in grades 1-3 to no more than 18 children.
All students, including special needs students, will master challenging subject matter, and Federal education programs will be held accountable and focus on practices proven to work. Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Double Title I resources to improve student performance and help schools meet strong accountability standards. Double spending for after-school programs.
All students will attend classes in a school building that is safe, in good repair and equipped with the latest technology. Bring all of our nation's schools up to fire and safety codes and close the digital divide.
All Americans will be able to attend college and receive an education beyond high school to get the skills they need to succeed in the global economy without incurring a mountain of debt. Increase the Pell Grant to $5750, Expand college loan forgiveness for teachers, Make additional investments in other higher education programs like College Work Study and TRIO, Increase job training by $1 billion a year.
Harkin's plan will be offered as an amendment when the federal budget is debated in the Senate next week. Currently the United States spends 2 cents of every federal dollar. Harkin's plan would increase that investment to 4 cents of every dollar and could cost up to $350 billion over the next 10 years. To put it in perspective -- that's just one half the cost of the new tax breaks President Bush would give Americans earning an average of $900,000 a year -- the wealthiest 1 percent.
Among the improvements which could be made with this new investment are:
Make Head Start available to all eligible 3 and 4 year olds next year.
Reduce class sizes to no more than 18 students in grades 1-3 by 2005, by completing the goal of hiring 100,000 new teachers.
More than triple funding for school repairs and construction next year.
Double spending for teacher training/quality next year.
Raise the maximum Pell Grant award by $600 next year, to $4,350, and to $5,750 (in FY 2001 dollars) by 2011.
Add $1 billion a year for job training, for a total of $10 billion.
"In this new century, we need a new plan for American education -- a bold, daring plan to demand true accountability from our schools -- and to provide the resources they need to meet the highest standards," said Harkin. "I am ready to work with the President to help him make that happen. Our nation will be much stronger, and our children's future much brighter if we seize this opportunity for a bold new effort to strengthen education."
Among the organizations supporting Harkin's plan to "Leave No Child Behind" are: National Education Association; National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; Children's Defense Fund; The Children's Foundation; American Council on Education; American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; and American Association of Community.
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