WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- President Bush was encouraged Friday by lawmakers who are close to finalizing an agreement on an education reform package, and hoped he could sign a bill into law before Congress recesses for the holidays.
"The president is confident that we'll be able to have these reforms in place for America's school children in time, so next fall we can begin closing the achievement gap in America and making sure that every child receives a first-rate education," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Friday during his afternoon briefing.
As with many other items on the domestic agenda, the education bill was shoved to the back burner after the events of Sept. 11 drew lawmakers' attention toward moving through anti-terrorism legislation. But with the bulk of that work behind them, measures like the education bill have resurfaced for action.
Aides for Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., chairman of the conference committee, said the lawmakers met all day Friday, and agreed to require states to have "highly qualified" teachers in every classroom within five years. They also agreed a program consolidating bilingual education and providing funding to help students with limited English language skills become proficient within three years.
Conferees were still debating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act aimed at maintaining the commitment of education agencies to identify and serve children with disabilities.
Agreements already reached that would be included in the final version of the bill are: denial of federal funds to local school districts that prevent or otherwise denies participation in constitutionally protected school prayer; denial of funding to any public school or educational agency that discriminates against, or denies equal access, to any group affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or other youth groups classified as patriotic societies under U.S. law; giving the nation's armed forces' recruiters the same access to high school students that college recruiters and job recruiters have; and asking schools to develop policies that allow teachers to maintain control of the classroom so that students can learn.
The U.S House of Representatives passed its version of the education bill on May 23, while the Democratically controlled Senate approved its bill on June 14. While the House bill gives elementary and secondary schools $24 billion in funding, the Senate bill would provide $33 billion.
The House version would allow local school districts to use up to half their federal funds without oversight, while the Senate bill would free seven states from spending restrictions provided they maintain higher student test scores.
Bush promised during his campaign to revamp the nation's public education system, requiring performance accountability from every school, more standardized testing and flexibility in how states spend their education dollars.
