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Congressman Boozman with Fort Smith Citizens Academy graduate Linsey Yates of Ramona Roberts Realty and Deputy City Administrator Ray Gosack View Photo
More photos Congressman Boozman and the people of the Third District

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Education Reform

One of my priorities in Congress is to ensure that Arkansas' children receive the best education possible. While serving on the Rogers School Board, I learned that we need to take the decision-making power out of Washington and put it into the hands of officials back home. Our teachers, administrators and parents are far more familiar with the needs of the students in Third District of Arkansas than the federal government can ever be. I believe it is imperative that their role in our children's education is not constrained by lawmakers in Washington.

The "No Child Left Behind Act,” which was passed shortly after I entered Congress, is an important step toward true reform. While far from perfect, the bill grants state and local school officials more flexibility, funds programs that work, expands parental options and holds schools accountable for results. And, it is working. I promise to work with my colleagues to build on these successes and reform federal education laws with these principles in mind. However, there is still room for improvement. During the 110^th Congress I introduced two bills to improve “No Child Left Behind” and give states more flexibility to meet challenges presented by students with special needs, including students with disabilities and English Language Learners. While this legislation did not pass the House, similar language was included in “No Child Left Behind” draft language, and it is my hope that these important changes will be included legislation when the program is reauthorized in the near future.

I was also proud to support legislation addressing the Higher Education needs of Arkansans. The 110^th Congress witnessed the passage of two important pieces of legislation to ensure Arkansans’ access to a quality postsecondary education, the “Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008” and the “College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008.” These laws reauthorized federal higher education programs for the first time in a decade and ensure that all Arkansans will have access to the resources they need to get a great education and realize their full potential.

Most importantly, I will always seek to ensure that our laws will benefit the children of Arkansas. Serving on any local school board will show you firsthand how hard Arkansas's teachers and administrators work. With the help of supportive communities - like those in the Third District - and empowered with more decision-making authority, these dedicated professionals create an environment in which our children learn and grow into tomorrow's leaders.

Congressional Research Service Reports:

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is part of the legislative branch of the federal government. CRS, which is a department of the Library of Congress, works exclusively as a nonpartisan analytical, research, and reference arm for Congress.

CRS Reports are in PDF format. In order to view these files, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your PC. You can download the free reader from Adobe's website. These files may be rather large and may take a few minutes to download.

K-12 Education: Highlights of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act

Teacher Recruitment and Retention: Federal, State, and Local Programs

The Administration of Federal Student Loan Programs: Background and Provisions

Funding for Public Charter School Facilities: Federal Policy Under the ESEA