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 8% 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 know that South Dakota education officials and educators are working very hard to meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.  I will continue to work with teachers, administrators, and government officials in South Dakota and in Washington to achieve the best possible education for our children.

In October of 2003, I joined Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) in requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to examine the unique challenges facing rural school districts. The following September, the nonpartisan GAO released that study, entitled "No Child Left Behind—Additional Assistance and Research on Effective Strategies Would Help Small Rural Districts." That report cited several specific challenges facing rural school districts. Click here to read my news release on the study, or if you would like to view the report itself, please visit: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04734.pdf.

In order to make much needed improvement to NCLB, I have supported the No Child Left Behind Reform Act, S. 724. The bill provides much needed flexibility that educators across South Dakota have reported was missing from the initial program passed in 2002. I believe we need to make some basic changes to the underlying law to ensure a real difference and increase student achievement. Additionally, we must commit the necessary funding to the program so that states and school districts have the necessary resources to meet that target. Click here to read more about this legislation.

Senator Johnson joined with Dr. Suess characters to celebrate the joy of reading with students at Knollwood Heights Elementary School in Rapid City. Johnson read House Mouse, Senate Mouse to the students as part of Read Across South Dakota Week.

Johnson Receives 'A' Grade from National Education Association

To read more about my work on education issues, click here.

Below are links that I find resourceful for teachers and the education community.

Teachers' Corner:

Learn more on rural education by visiting the Mid-Continent Research for Education on Learning (McREL) site.

Students' Corner:

Financial Aid information for high school students heading to college.

Parents' Corner:
Tim encourages parents' getting involved in their child's school and school work.  He also suggests talking to their child's teacher before looking online for help.

U.S. Department of Education: Homework Tips for Parents

SD Department of Education

National Parent Teacher Organization

SD Head Start Programs-Early Childhood Education

Dakota Writing Project

Reach Out and Read

Learn about adoption.