U.S. Senator Tim Johnson

Throughout my service in public office, both at the state and federal level, I have worked to make sure our children receive quality early education, elementary and secondary education, and have access to affordable and quality post-secondary education, be it college, university, or vocational training.

The federal role in elementary and secondary education is limited so that the states maintain control.  The federal government only funds approximately 9% of K-12 education nationwide. Despite this limited role, I have been a strong supporter of initiatives to reduce classroom size, fully fund the federal obligation to special education, repair our crumbling schools, and give our teachers the tools they need to help children succeed.  

I have many concerns regarding No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as it places a significant burden on school districts.  We need to make sure that educators have the resources and flexibility necessary to ensure student achievement.  Over the years, I have voiced my concerns to the U.S. Department of Education and made recommendations to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), which has jurisdiction over NCLB, regarding areas within this program that deserve close scrutiny and review by Congress.  Recognizing the challenges facing rural schools, I have sent several letters to Education Secretary Arne Duncan this year that emphasize the importance of recognizing rural needs when drafting education policy proposals. 

On October 20, 2011, the HELP Committee approved a bipartisan bill to reauthorize NCLB by a vote of 15-7.   This bill represents an excellent starting point, and I hope the full Senate will act on this bill as soon as possible.  The bill is expected to undergo a full debate on the Senate floor using a process that will give Senators the opportunity to make improvements to the committee’s proposal.  The committee’s bill eliminates the “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) requirement that mandated federal sanctions and encouraged teaching to the test.  Instead of focusing on AYP, the bill directs federal attention to the most poorly performing 5% of schools, including schools with large achievement gaps, low academic performance, and high schools with unacceptable dropout rates. The bill makes changes to NCLB to support innovative state-led initiatives for accountability and career and college readiness and streamlines federal education programs to make them more efficient while giving schools greater flexibility.  

When I’m back in South Dakota, I have been traveling around our state to speak with educators about NCLB.  I also launched an online education newsletter to keep South Dakotans informed about important education policy developments and as a tool to request feedback.  If you would like to receive this newsletter, please email edsubscription@johnson.senate.gov.