During the week of May 8, the Senate is scheduled to continue debate on a bill (S. 2) that would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (see The Source, 3/10/00, p. 1). The ESEA, last reauthorized in 1994, represents the federal government’s contribution to public education for grades K-12.
Partisan differences over education policy have brought increasing controversy to the reauthorization effort in both chambers. Shortly after the Senate began its debate on May 2, it appeared action might stall, and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) expressed concern about a number of possible Democratic amendments. On May 4, when two unexpected second-degree amendments were offered by Democrats, Sen. Lott narrowly negotiated an agreement to continue debate. Under that unanimous consent agreement, further second-degree amendments are barred.
The debate has been further impacted by a group of moderate Democratic lawmakers led by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Evan Bayh (D-IN). An ESEA alternative bill (S. 2254) has been crafted by the New Democrats coalition, which also includes Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), John Breaux (D-LA), Richard Bryan (D-NV), Bob Graham (D-FL), Herb Kohl (D-WI), and Chuck Robb (D-VA).
With Republicans holding a tight majority in the Senate, both parties are seeking the New Democrats’ support. According to Sen. Lieberman, the coalition is seeking to keep the ESEA reauthorization alive by making the bill more centrist, as the President already has indicated he will veto S. 2 in its current form.
The role of the New Democrats is also significant because Sen. Lott may file a cloture motion if Democratic lawmakers move to offer gun-related amendments. In order to gain the 60 votes needed for cloture, Republicans would require the support of five Democrats.
The Senate is expected to consider an amendment reflecting the New Democrats’ alternative bill on May 9, after voting on an undisclosed amendment to be offered by Sens. Lott and Judd Gregg (R-NH).
On May 4, the Senate accepted, 54-42, an amendment by Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI) to provide federal funds for teachers’ merit pay and to change the rules pertaining to teachers’ tenure. The Senate rejected, 43-54, a second-degree amendment by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) that would have nullified the Abraham amendment.
An amendment by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) was also considered on May 4. The amendment, which would have authorized an additional $1.75 billion for the third year of the President’s initiative to hire 100,000 new teachers, was defeated, 44-53.
On May 3, the Senate adopted, 98-0, an amendment by Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA) designed to clarify that S. 2 is not intended to provide private school vouchers. On the same day, an amendment reflecting the Democratic leadership’s ESEA reauthorization package was defeated along party lines, 45-54.
Gender-related Amendments Expected
S. 2 would reauthorize the Women’s Educational Equity Act (WEEA), which is designed to help school districts and educators meet the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in any educational programs or activities at institutions receiving federal funds (see The Source, 10/22/00, p. 1).
Sens. Kennedy and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) are expected to offer an amendment with language allowing schools to consider gender in relation to education technology, school safety, teacher training, and dropout prevention. Some of the language is contained in current law but not included in S. 2.
In addition, Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) is expected to offer an amendment to alter the requirements for single-sex public education. Under current law, federal funds can be spent on single-sex classrooms and schools as long as equal opportunities are offered for students of the other sex. Sen. Hutchinson’s amendment would change “equal” to “comparable” (see The Source, 4/14/00, p. 3).
Background Sponsored by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair James Jeffords (R-VT), S. 2 would reauthorize many current programs, including the Even Start family literacy program, the Migrant Education program, the Reading Excellence Act, the National Writing Project, the 21st Century Learning Centers, transition programs for neglected and delinquent students, the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Act, arts in education programs, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act, public charter schools, magnet schools, technology in education programs, the Inexpensive Book Distribution program, immigrant education programs, programs for homeless youth, the Innovative Education Strategies program, and programs for Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives.
Authorizing more than $19.6 billion for FY2001, the bill would give states the option of receiving a block grant for a variety of programs. States electing the block grant funding would be expected to document a resulting increase in academic achievement among students.
Supporters of the block grant approach assert the current system is failing to provide an adequate education, and the block grant would offer states greater flexibility in their efforts to improve education.
However, according to opponents, the block grant would reduce funding intended for disadvantaged and low-income students because states would have no impetus for ensuring the funds are used to assist that population.
While Sen. Jeffords has offered his chamber’s reauthorization package as one bill, the House’s reauthorization effort has been considered as a series of bills offered by House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Bill Goodling (R-PA). The House has approved two bills (H.R. 2, H.R. 1995) and the committee has approved another (H.R. 4141).
