WASHINGTON – First District Congressman Paul Ryan today voted in favor of key education legislation: the conference report to H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, which contains many elements of President Bush's vision to improve education for all students.  This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 381-41.

"I believe that parents, teachers, local schools, and school districts hold the key to improving education in Wisconsin and throughout our country," Ryan said. "They know – much better than Washington bureaucrats – what will help students learn.  I supported this legislation because I believe it upholds this principle.  Parents want to know that education decisions affecting their children are being made by people who know their children's names and have firsthand knowledge of their children's school.  This bill is an important step in that direction."

The measure provides significant new flexibility for all 50 states and every local school district in America in the use of federal education funds.  Specifically, the H.R. 1 conference report would provide all local school districts with the flexibility to shift federal dollars earmarked for one specific purpose to other uses that more effectively address their students' needs.  Under current law, such decisions are subject to extremely rigid federal requirements.  Local school districts can only make spending decisions with up to five percent of the funds they receive, and decisions must normally be approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

In contrast, under the conference report that Ryan supported today, every local school district in America would be permitted to make spending decisions, within certain broad guidelines, with up to 50 percent of the non-Title I funds it receives from the federal government.  Local school districts would not need to obtain permission from the U.S. Department of Education before transferring funds.

In addition, the measure would allow up to 150 demonstration projects to be established across the country to show the effectiveness of giving local school districts broad flexibility in deciding how federal education funds will be spent.  Furthermore, it would give states new options as well.  Under this conference report, all 50 states would immediately receive the freedom to transfer up to 50 percent of the non-Title I state activity funds they receive from the federal government among an assortment of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs.  States would not need to obtain permission before transferring funds.

Moreover the H.R. 1 conference report consolidates and streamlines programs, reducing the overall number of ESEA programs from 55 to 45.  This legislation also empowers parents and taxpayers with data, including annual report cards on school performance and statewide results.

Additionally, under this legislation, parents with children in thousands of schools already identified as failing under current law will have immediate new options, including access to supplemental services (such as tutoring and after-school services.)  These options can be put to use for students in the 2002-2003 school year, beginning next August or September.  In Wisconsin, children in 209 schools would become immediately eligible for tutoring, after-school services, or other programs to supplement their regular education, as well as eligible for public school choice.

H.R. 1 also requires states using federal education dollars to demonstrate results through annual reading and math assessments for students in grades three through eight.  The conference report would authorize $400 million to help states design and administer tests.  A "trigger" mechanism is included specifying that states do not have to develop or implement 3-8 reading and math tests if the federal government fails to provide the necessary funding.  The measure would also prohibit federally sponsored national testing, federally controlled curriculum, as well as any mandatory national teacher test or certification.

"This legislation is not perfect, but it gives local schools unprecedented flexibility, while addressing my chief concerns about new mandates," Ryan said.  "I wanted to make sure the bill did not impose any new unfunded mandates on states – particularly regarding the new testing requirements.  The measure we passed today takes these concerns into account by ensuring that the federal government pays for the states' testing required in this bill."

The measure also exempts all home schools and home school students from all testing requirements.