Improving Education for All Nevadans

Education has always been at the heart of achievement in America. As someone whose life was transformed by education, I know first hand the importance of giving every child in Nevada and the nation a quality education. I am fighting for an agenda that will help Nevada schools address their unique needs as they work to provide a quality education and improve student achievement. There is no better investment for our nation's future than creating world-class schools.

Providing a Quality Education

Our children's future depends on a quality education. As parents, teachers, administrators, and lawmakers, it is our job to give every child a proper foundation for learning. Since Nevada welcomes more than 6,000 new residents a month, we must work together to make sure our schools can provide meaningful opportunities for every child.

Fulfilling Our Promise to Our Children

The No Child Left Behind act (NCLB) has caused good schools to be labeled failing and puts undue pressure on students and teachers to focus on passing standardized tests instead of engaging in other subjects such as the sciences, history, art, and music. I had the opportunity to meet with all of Nevada's superintendents to hear about the needs of K-12 schools in their communities. I will continue to fight for expanded education programs for gifted and talented students, English-language learners, and children with disabilities, as well as professional development for teachers.

Improving educational results for children with disabilities is another priority for me. The Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Reauthorization in the 108th Congress, which called for the federal government to honor its commitment to the states by providing 40% funding for the excess cost of special education. However, we have not done so. This year, my Democratic colleagues and I introduced a bill which calls for the federal government to fulfill this obligation to the states and approximately 6.5 million children by appropriating the funds authorized in the law by 2011.

Improving No Child Left Behind

I believe that there is a disconnect between the rhetoric of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and its actual impact in Nevada's schools, and I am concerned that the rigidity of the law's requirements have had a number of unintended consequences on our schools.

The President has not devoted the funding that was promised in the No Child Left Behind law. It is unfair and ineffective for the federal government to issue new mandates upon schools throughout the country without providing them with the resources needed to meet these new objectives.

However, NCLB can - and should - be improved. This year, my Democratic colleagues and I introduced legislation to improve supplemental services, allow greater flexibility in determining highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals, and revise the calculation of adequate yearly progress (AYP). Our bill will provide the additional resources that will help our schools work with the nearly 4.1 million students, or 8.5 percent of our nation's public school students who are English language learners. The bill would also provide full funding of Title I resources for school districts that help disadvantaged students succeed academically.

Attracting More Great Teachers

Our children deserve great teachers in every classroom. As the fastest-growing state in the nation, Nevada has a tremendous need for additional qualified teachers. I worked to bring Teach for America, a nonprofit group committed to educational equality, and the Clark County School District together to identify a plan of action. I am pleased to say that, as a result, over one hundred new teachers have begun teaching in Clark County schools. This is a great example of how the public sector and private groups can work together to improve our schools.

Keeping the Door to College Open

College is the door to opportunity, and it should be open to any student who is willing to work hard. Today that door is closing for many working and middle class families. These families are being squeezed between rising college costs and cuts in federal aid to students. President Bush wants to cut aid even further, but I think that's a bad idea. I support programs that encourage and increase the number of students from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds to identify the tools they need to help them achieve a higher education. Many of the programs I support also provide college scholarships to these young men and women, a key component in helping them reach their goals.

This year, my Democratic colleagues and I introduced legislation to increase the maximum Pell Grant award from $4,050 to $5,100, expand the opportunity to attend college by increasing access to HOPE and Lifetime Learning tax credits, and create a tax credit for low and middle-income families for student loan interest expenses.

Providing Safe, Reliable Transportation for Rural School Children

Many rural school districts do not have safe and reliable buses and lack the resources to buy new buses or retrofit the ones they have. This leaves children no choice but to ride in outdated, unsafe buses. This year, I introduced a bill to create a federal program for rural districts to purchase new buses so that they can retire these older buses.

Working with Nevadans

I work in Nevada whenever the Senate is not in session, but it is difficult for me to meet with every person who is involved in the effort to improve our schools. That's why I have been visiting parents, teachers, students, and PTA members around Nevada via satellite - I call it the "Capitol to Classroom Tour." This way, I have the opportunity to have real conversations and exchange ideas on current affairs like foreign relations or federal support for key education programs. I always enjoy hearing from Nevadans and welcome the opportunity to meet with you in your school community in the near future.

Supporting Nevada's Public Schools and Colleges and Universities

Over the past few years, I secured more than $100 million for the Nevada Universities and Colleges for curriculum development, research activities, technology advances, outreach, and cultural programs.

I helped secure nearly $15 million in funding for high-tech research at the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Desert Research Institute. The projects will help get blood transfusions to wounded troops faster, help troops train for desert warfare in safe, simulated environments, and help detect biological warfare agents before they can spread. I also worked to bring over $1 million in funds for the Nevada Biodiversity Research and Conservation Initiative at the University of Nevada, Reno to support conservation efforts. Additionally I also secured federal funds for Nevada's K-12 schools, including funds for English instruction programs in the Washoe County School District, for dropout prevention programs in the Clark County School District, and for technology and college preparation programs for Nevada's charter schools.

Recent News