Reply #4: Kerry Record on Education

[JHS]

Here are a few things Kerry has done on education as a Senator:

Senator Kerry led a group of bipartisan senators during the 106th Congress in an effort to identify key education reform initiatives that all parties could agree were critical to improving education reform. Those initiatives included strong accountability provisions, funding comprehensive school reform, ensuring that principals have access to high-quality professional development opportunities; funding to schools for the creation of alternative learning environments for violent or chronically disruptive students; funding initiatives to recruit and retain high-quality teachers; and expanding public school choice program.The education reform priorities that Senator Kerry and his colleagues championed were critical components of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 2000 and 2001.Senator Kerry supported legislation signed into law this year to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Senator Kerry has been at the forefront of the fight to obtain federal funding for school construction. Senator Kerry responded to these challenges by cosponsoring S. 905, legislation that would allow the federal government to issue $24.8 billion in school modernization bonds in order to help states and school districts fix crumbling schools.

Senator Kerry was the first to bring the attention of Congress to the importance of leadership of the public schools, recognizing the critical role that principals and other administrators play. He proposed an amendment, which was ultimately signed into law, to ensure that these important educational leaders have the resources that they need to serve our school communities.

Senator Kerry has worked with many of his colleagues to ensure that the federal government becomes a true partner of state and local governments in the provision of special education. He has consistently supported efforts to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and will continue working toward full funding.

Kerry has proven he will work to make public school better for all!