A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE
November 2, 1999

Contact:
Erica Lepping
(202) 401-3026

STATEMENT BY U. S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION RICHARD W. RILEY
On Senate Vote to Cut Key Educational Resources in Appropriations Bill

Today, the Senate has unfortunately voted to send an inadequate bill to certain veto by the President. By failing to target educational resources, this legislation does not seriously address American priorities for improving education and consequently falls short in delivering critical funds to students.

Why does this bill fail education? It leaves schools with overcrowded classrooms, not enough resources to adequately train teachers, cutbacks in providing extra help for kids struggling to read and learn math, and fewer schools remaining open after school hours as "safe havens" for children.

And at a time when the American people have made it clear that they want wise investments to improve education, the Senate majority has supported an ill-advised 1 percent across-the-board cut. This would have a very serious and direct impact on key programs like Title I, after-school, class size reduction, GEAR-UP, and special education. A 1 percent cut in Title I, for example, which helps disadvantaged children learn how to read and write, would force a cut in services for 120,000 students.

Any teacher will tell you that small class sizes make a difference. But the Senate has ignored common sense. Reneging on a bipartisan promise made last year to hire 100,000 teachers to reduce class size in the early grades, they have sent a message to some 29,000 teachers already hired for this year that they may soon be out of a job. And the bill provides no funding for the additional 8,000 teachers the President's plan would support this year.

Earlier this week, the President released a report showing that the class size reduction initiative is working. Teachers are being hired in areas of greatest need and urban teachers are receiving high quality training. This bill disregards demonstrated success. It allows for funds to lower class size to be used, not to bring trained teachers into public schools at all, but instead for vouchers for students attending private schools - an idea I think is dangerous for public education.

In the remaining days of this session, I urge Congress to avoid futile legislative exercises and focus on making serious decisions that will help students and schools all across America.

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