Congressman Mica, what are your thoughts on improving education?

     I support increasing flexibility and providing greater accountability in our school system.  Our local school boards, not the federal government, are better equipped to assess the needs, and hopes, of our schools and our students.

"No Child Left Behind"

     Congress passed the "No Child Left Behind" bill, President Bush's major legislative initiative to improve our education system.  Providing the largest funding increases for key education programs in history, this new law is bringing  accountability to our education system and ensures opportunities for ALL children to excel and achieve.  This legislation provides states and local school districts flexibility in spending federal education dollars while holding them strictly accountable for increasing student achievement.  The following guidelines and provisions are included in the new law:
 
Increase Accountability for Student Performance
 
      States, districts and schools that improve achievement will be rewarded. Failure will be sanctioned.  Parents will know how well their child is learning, and that schools are held accountable for their effectiveness with annual state reading and math assessments in grades 3-8.  Authorizes $400 million to help states design and administer tests.

Increasing School Resources and Reducing Class-Size

     Additional flexibility is now being provided to states and school districts. 95% of federal education funds must be spent at the local level rather than in the federal bureaucracy, and local school districts can decide how to use up to 50% of their federal funds to meet local education needs. This new flexibility gives our schools the freedom to target resources where they are needed most and to better address needs that often change from one year to the next. This new flexibility will hopefully help our State meet its recently-passed Constitutional requirement to reduce class size.

Focus on What Works
 
      Federal dollars will be spent on effective, research-based programs and practices.  Funds will be targeted to improve schools and enhance teacher quality. Triples federal funding to $900 million in 2002 for having all children read by the third grade.
 
Empower Parents
 
      Parents will have more information about the quality of their child's school. Students in persistently low-performing schools will be given choices to transfer to better-performing schools.  Expands charter school opportunities.
 
Increase Funding
 
      Federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act are increased by $3.7 billion.  Funding for Title I, the federal government's main education program for the disadvantaged, increased by $1.7 billion

Education Measures in the 2001 Tax Bill

     On June 7, 2001, President Bush signed into law a major tax relief bill which reduces taxes for every citizen and helps to make education more affordable. Specific provisions of the new law include the following:
 
 1. Education Savings Accounts.  Beginning in 2002, increases from $500 to $2,000 per year the amount taxpayers may set aside in education savings accounts and allows the money to be used for elementary and secondary school expenses in addition to higher education costs.  Contributions are not deductible, but earnings on the accounts are tax-free if the money is spent for education.
 
 2. College Tuition Deductions.  Allows a deduction for higher education costs in 2002 through 2005. Individuals with adjusted gross incomes up to $65,000 and couples with up to $130,000 could deduct up to $3,000 per year in 2002 and 2003, increasing to $4,000 in 2004 and 2005. Individuals making up to $85,000 per year and couples making up to $160,000 could deduct up to $2,000 in education expenses.
 
 3. Student Loan Interest Deductions.  Starting in 2002, increases the income levels at which a $2,500 per year deduction for interest on student loans phases out.  Currently the deduction phases out for individuals making between $40,000 and $55,000 and for married couples making between $60,000 and $75,000.  The ranges would increase next year to $50,000 to $65,000 for singles and $100,000 to $130,000 for couples.  Beginning in 2003, the phase-out ranges would be indexed for inflation.
 
 4. Employer-Provided Educational Aid.  Beginning in 2002, expands the $5,250 exclusion from taxable income for employer-paid education expenses to cover graduate as well as undergraduate education and makes the exclusion permanent.