No Child Left Behind
A quality education system not only impacts our childrens’ future, it has a direct impact on our local communities’ ability to attract new jobs and opportunities. In 2001, I joined 197 Democrats and 186 Republicans in supporting the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, HR 1. This legislation was designed to foster excellence by requiring accountability and measuring success. The federal government set the goals and allowed states to develop their curriculum and testing methods. Criticisms of NCLB have not been directed at the principle goals, but some educators have complained that the legislation does not allow for progress to be factored into a school’s annual report.
To address these concerns, I contacted the Department of Education to recommend that North Carolina be chosen to participate in a pilot program which creates a new standard for accountability in a child’s learning growth by factoring in the progress being made in the classroom. North Carolina was one of two states selected for this “growth model”. I also joined several of my colleagues in supporting HR 1177, a bill to revise the accountability requirements of Title I and improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. As we look at updating the NCLB legislation this congress, I hope we can continue to strengthen the legislation.
Impact Aid
One of the federal programs that has a direct impact on schools in the 8th District is Impact Aid. Federal Impact Aid is direct assistance to local school systems in counties like Cumberland that are home to federal, civilian, and military installations. Most counties rely heavily on property taxes to fund their public school system; however, federal land is not subject to property tax. School systems in these counties are at a disadvantage because they bear the expense of education children who live on the installation without being able to collect property tax for that area. Impact Aid is direct federal funding to counties to compensate for this disparity.
This funding assists local educational agencies like Cumberland County Schools with military dependent students comprising at least 20 percent of the students in average daily attendance during a year. The education of military dependents is a critical quality of life and readiness issue that has a direct impact on recruiting and retaining our nation’s service members and their families.
As Co-Chair of the Impact Aid Caucus, I have worked hard to increase funding for this program, and this year’s Defense Authorization Bill authorized $50 million for this program nationally. In addition, the bill authorizes $15 million to provide needed assistance to school districts heavily impacted by BRAC, HR 403. An impacted school system, including Cumberland County Schools, can receive up to $1 million to hire additional teachers, renovate facilities, purchase school supplies or other necessary expenses. A school system will qualify for these funds if it expects an increase of at least 5% or 250 dependent students. With thousands of soldiers expected to arrive at Ft. Bragg in the coming years, this funding will be critical for local schools to prepare for the arrival of that large increase of children.
Student Loan Relief
Currently, $90 billion in federal resources fund student aid programs – from loans and grants to work-study programs and education tax benefits. Even though federal financial aid resources have increased for students, the cost of earning a college degree has accelerated beyond some deserving prospective students’ reach.
To ensure that more students are given this opportunity, the House passed the College Student Relief Act that would cut the rate of interest on subsidized Stafford student education loans in half over a five-year period, HR 5. I was happy to support this legislation that I believe will help alleviate some loan costs for students, and help make a college education a reality. Such loans are used by more than 92,000 students in North Carolina.
