Thought you might like to see some highlights from the House passed version of the education bill.
"Foremost among the bill's proposals is a requirement that millions of students take annual reading and math tests. For the first time, the schores could affect how much federal funding schools get and how they spend it." "In adition to testing, the bill would require schools to adopt plans to close the achievement gaps between low-income and middle-class students and between white and minority students." "States and school districts also would get more freedom in how they spend federal dollars. Money intended for teacher improvement, for example, could instead pay for salary increases or additional instructors." "Districts would have to submit annual "report cards" showing a school's standardized test scores compared with other schools, both locally and statewide" "The annual state reading and math tests, to be given to all students in grades 3-8, would guage the effectiveness of schools, especially those serving poor students. Those with persistently low scores would have to give some of their federal aid to students for tutoring or transportation to another public school. More aid would flow to schools where scores do not improve for two years in a row, but if scores do not rise afterward, a school's staff could be changed. The tutoring provision was added to the bill in the spring after Republicans failed to gather enough support for vouchers." SOUNDS LIKE VOUCHER WITH A TWIST! -- Thanks, Jon W. Hueser Comp/Tech. Coord. East Greene Comm. Schools 405 12th Str. South Box 377 Grand Junction, IA 50107 Phone: 515-738-2411 ext. 241 Fax: 515-738-5719 Pager: 800-365-7789 #220268 email pager: [EMAIL PROTECTED] email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: www.east-greene.k12.ia.us -- --------------------------------------------------------- Archived messages from this list can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/tech-cord@aea5.k12.ia.us/ ---------------------------------------------------------
