From the Office of Senator Kerry

Thursday, April 15, 1999

Washington, D.C. - Senators John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) today introduced legislation that would increase accountability and provide additional resources for comprehensive school reform in America's public school system.

The Comprehensive School Improvement and Accountability Act of 1999 would empower states and local school districts to ensure that children begin school ready to learn, facilitate vital partnerships between teachers, administrators, parents and communities, raise teacher quality and expand public school choice.

"There is no decision of greater importance to the long term health, stability, and competitiveness of a nation than the way we educate our children," said Kerry. We must commit ourselves to setting our education priorities and investing in the right places, increasing flexibility and accountability. Education reform can work in a bi-partisan way and this bill empowers local public schools by giving them the tools to make a new start and raise student achievement."

Senator Smith said, "Our shared goal is legislation that empowers educators, parents, and principals to initiate positive and innovative change in the local school districts without burdensome federal mandates. Senator Kerry and I look forward to working with members of the education community in crafting comprehensive legislation to improve the quality of public education in the country."

The Kerry-Smith legislation provides competitive grants and incentive programs to states to implement voluntary state comprehensive reform efforts, invest in local childhood development programs, create "Second Chance" schools, raise salaries and provide scholarships to potential teachers, establish community service programs, and encourage public school choice.

Under the funding guidelines of the legislation, Massachusetts would receive approximately $500 million, or $100 million a year over the next five years, to implement reforms in the Kerry-Smith bill.

Current co-sponsors of the bill are Senators John H. Chafee (R-RI), Max Cleland (D-GA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Evan Bayh (D- IN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), John Edwards (D-NC), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Richard Bryan (D-NV).

The following education groups have written letters of support for the Kerry-Smith education bill: National Parent Teacher Association * National School Board Association * National Education Association * American Federation of Teachers * National Association of Elementary School Principals * National Association of Secondary School Principals * American Association of University Women * American Association of School Administrators * National Association of State Directors of Special Education * Council of Chief State School Officers * Association of Career and Technical Education

-30-