U.S. Congressman John Boozman 3rd District of Arkansas

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 micromanagers 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. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Arkansas has seen marked improvement in Math, Reading, Science, and Writing since NCLB’s adoption into law in 2002.  However, there is still room for improvement. I have 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. By providing states with the latitude they need to address their unique situations, my legislation preserves accountability and helps to ensure our good schools stop ending up on the “Needs-Improvement List.” Like many of my colleagues in Congress, I am eager for the reauthorization of NCLB and the opportunity for lawmakers to make the necessary improvements to the law. Language similar to my legislation was included in the most recent draft language for the Reauthorization of NCLB during the 110th Congress.
 
I was also proud to support legislation addressing the Higher Education needs of Arkansans. The 110th 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 parents, 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 Arkansans create an environment in which our children learn and grow into tomorrow's leaders.

Education Legislation Boozman introduced in the 111th Congress

H.R. 2229 - To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow States to adopt alternate and modified standards for students with disabilities.
H.R. 2230 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for teachers and principals who work in certain low income schools. 

Congressional Research Service Reports:

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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.

The No Child Left Behind Act: An Overview of Reauthorization Issues for the 111^th Congress

CRS Issue Statement on Elementary and Secondary Education

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