As the Senate begins debating federal education policy, Montana Senator Jon Tester is trying to remove annual testing requirements from Washington, and Senator Steve Daines is seeking block grants of federal funding instead of money with specific strings attached.
The Senate is currently working on replacing the unpopular No Child Left Behind law, with one called “Every Child Achieves.”
Democrat Jon Tester, a former teacher,is pushing an amendment that would remove federal annual testing requirements, and have kids take fewer tests. He says too much classroom time is being taken up by annual federal testing requirements.
Republican Steve Daines, likewise wants states to have fewer requirements tied to federal education funding. The so-called“A-PLUS” amendment he’s backing aims to remove most federal education mandates tied to federal funding, and replace them with block grants to the states.
"This measure will help expand local control of our schools, and return federal education dollars where they belong, closer to the classroom," Daines said in a speech in the Senate Wednesday.
National Journal is reporting that those block grants would allow students to spend money at private schools, but Daines’ spokeswoman Alee Lockman says the intent is to “maintain… the eligibility of private schools for federal funds assisting disabled students."
