As an educator, former President of the San Diego
School Board, and former professor at San Diego State
University, Congressman Bob Filner is deeply committed
to providing a quality education for each and every
child in our nation.
In July, 2003, the National Education Association
presented Congressman Filner with the prestigious NEA
Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, which recognizes his
lifetime commitment to providing quality education for
all students in the nation.
A major piece of education is The No Child Left Behind Act,
which has been law since 2002.
Even though this bill represented a compromise between
Democrats and Republicans, Bob was concerned that the
President’s tax policies would not leave enough funding
for the programs in this bill. Unfortunately, his
concerns have become a reality. In addition, The No
Child Left Behind Act attempts to push a “one size fits
all” testing accountability program which has led to
eliminating or reducing the teaching of all subjects
except math and English. This law must be
re-authorized by the current 110th Congress.
Bob will be working will his colleagues on the House
Education Committee to address the many concerns of
parents and teachers about No Child Left Behind.
Bob was also a co-sponsor of the America's Better Classroom Act.
Millions of children attend overcrowded or dilapidated
classrooms, and many schools are crumbling. Children go
to class in closets, storage rooms or trailers. Science
and computer labs use decades-old equipment. Computers
are often non-existent. In fact, one in three public
schools is in need of major repair, according to the
American Institute of Architects. This bill addresses these
needs, and Bob will again support it work to improve
the quality of our children's education.
The 2001 tax cut for only the top 1% of filers costs 50 times as much
as the amount needed for school modernization.
Bob has, for years, supported full federal
funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act
(IDEA) and he has just co-sponsored the
Full Funding for IDEA Now Act. The
President's FY2007 budget leaves schools $14.5
billion short of funding for the education of
children with special needs.
Bob also co-sponsored the Student Adjustment Act, in
the last session of Congress, to open educational
opportunities for talented, undocumented students
who were brought here as children and have lived in
the United States for most of their lives. He will
again co-sponsor this bill in the 110th Congress
as soon as it is re-introduced.
Bob is opposed to vouchers for private school
education. He believes that we need to support our
public schools, the cornerstone of our nation's
educational system, and not withdraw needed funding
to use on vouchers for a few.
BOB'S STATEMENTS
ON EDUCATION
Recognizing Imperial High School: Recipient of 2006
Dispelling the Myth Award - December 8, 2006