We need a strong and competitive education system for our children in East Tennessee. Public education is one of our country's most important priorities. Folks at the local level have a huge responsibility to educate America's youth and I know that all teachers are committed to excellence in education.

Our schools still need help, which is why Congress must stay on top of the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and make changes in order for it to work effectively. We must provide greater flexibility to states, schools, and classroom teachers to increase innovation and academic achievement. One way to provide greater flexibility is to allow the use of multiple indicators to measure academic progress and meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

One measure in particular that I would like to see included is physical education. PE has been pushed out of schools due to the focus on math and reading testing in NCLB, and it is important to give schools another way to meet AYP and strengthen their PE programs. We should also revise testing requirements for students with disabilities and English Language Learners, and make sure we recognize schools making significant progress in the academic achievements of these students.

As we work through the House and Senate deliberations, I will advocate for the superintendents, teachers, parents and students I have heard from.