Educating our Children is a Shared Responsibility

Columbus – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-15) issued the following for editorial review:

‘Summer has begun its transition into Fall, and central Ohioans are settling into our familiar autumn routines. Cool weather has already shown us it waits just around the corner. The Buckeyes have kicked off to a good start at 1-0. And our kids have boarded the buses back to school.

While our children may not be happy about getting up early to climb on the bus and head off to school, we should all be thrilled that many children in Central Ohio are returning to schools that are better performing than they were one year ago. According to the Ohio Department of Education, the performance of students on state tests has increased nearly 13 points over the past five years. And this year, 86 percent of Ohio’s school districts improved their performance index scores over last year. Only four districts in the state are now rated in “academic emergency,” a drop of 75 percent over last school year. On the other end of the spectrum, 117 districts in Ohio are rated “excellent,” and increase of 38 percent.

Much of the credit is due to Ohio’s great teachers, who have devoted their lives to educating our children and parents who are actively involved in their child’s learning. But the significant strides that we have seen in the past few years can also be attributed to the forward-thinking reforms championed by President George W. Bush and Congress.

In the last four years, we have moved forward measures to strengthen special education, improve Head Start early childhood programs, help states and schools recruit highly-qualified teachers, and ensure communities have the tools they need to meet President Bush’s call for high standards and accountability in our nation’s schools. 

This week, the House passed new legislation to continue our investment in education programs. There is a renewed focus on funding special education and providing assistance to low-income, disadvantaged schools. We are providing money to school districts so teachers can participate in professional development programs, because maintaining a high-quality education system means keeping high-quality teachers. 

That said, more challenges await us. We all remember the teacher who went above and beyond to make learning enjoyable and fun, inspiring us to learn and succeed. Unfortunately, due to many budget constraints local schools face, teachers have to dig into their own pockets to create an environment that makes learning fun. I believe every teacher should have the tools they need to inspire their students without being financially responsible for a lack of curriculum materials. For this reason, I have introduced a bill which would increase the tax deduction for classroom supply and professional development expenses incurred by elementary and secondary school teachers from $250 to $400.

I am also the lead co-sponsor of a bill to expand a reform program implemented in the Columbus Public Schools called Project GRAD.  Project GRAD’s goal is to transform the lowest-performing public schools into high-performing schools by offering research-based programs in reading, math, classroom management, social services, and college preparation, and then providing a four-year college scholarship to all students who qualify. High school graduation rates for long-term participants in the program have increased by 85 percent, and of those, college bound students have earned college degrees at a rate of 89 percent above the national average. Fortune magazine has called GRAD one of the best non-profits and the Ford Foundation calls Project GRAD “one of the most promising urban education reform efforts we have seen.” Right now, only 5,500 Columbus students have access to the program. With the federal funding I am proposing, more than half of all students in the Columbus Public Schools would be able to receive this intensive instruction and aid.

Educating our nation’s children is a shared responsibility with parents and teachers – at a federal, state, and local level.  While there is always more to do, I believe the federal government is fulfilling its role in dedicating funds to further strengthen our nation’s education system.’

About Congresswoman Pryce:

Deborah Pryce represents the Fifteenth District of Ohio, which includes Western Franklin County, Madison, and Union Counties.  She serves as Chairman of the House Republican Conference for the 108th Congress, making her the fourth ranking member of House leadership.  The Congresswoman also co-chairs the Cancer Caucus.