Russ Feingold on Education

Summary

Senator Feingold has stated that local school districts should maintain control of over decisions that affect day-to-day activities and that is why he opposed No Child Left Behind. He has referred to this legislation as a "one size fits all" approach. He has called for a reform of NCLB that changes the testing mandate. 

Senator Feingold is a strong supporter of the public education system and has been endorsed by all the teacher's unions and public education unions.

While in office, Senator Feingold has voted against NCLB, voted in favor of extra pay for teachers over tutors, and against the use of vouchers in DC.

 

Support for the America COMPETES Act

In April of 2007, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting his support for the America COMPETES Act, and for provisions to protect education databases.

 

No Child Left Behind

In February of 2007, Senator Feingold wrote a letter to the Health, Education, and Labor Committee noting some of the issues that he wanted to see addressed in NCLB and asking the committee to focus on certain issues.

• Adequate Fundin!!:and Financial Burdens Facin!!:School Districts
• Sensible Accountabilitv Models
• Differences in School Districts Size and Composition
• Effect on Teachers. Students. and Curriculum
• Supportive Interventions for Strugling Schools

In August of 2007, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting another letter where he outlined problems with NCLB and changes he would like to see.

In September of 2007, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting his support for reforms to the No Child Left Behind Legislation. Those reforms included:

Also in September of 2007, Senator Feingold released a statement noting his belief that NCLB was based on a flawed premise, is too reliant on testing, and has too much of a top-down structure.

NCLB was based on a flawed premise – that the way to hold schools accountable and close the achievement gap was for the federal government to pile on more tests and use the tests as the primary tool to evaluate schools. Now, five years into the law’s implementation, we have evidence showing the need to reduce NCLB’s burden on schools, by providing real support for students and teachers and by providing flexibility to states to use more than standardized tests to measure the achievement of students. This country has a long way to go before the opportunity for an equal education is afforded to all of America’s students and Congress can take a step toward helping to ensure that opportunity by substantially reforming the mandates of NCLB. It is time to fix No Child Left Behind, and to get back to learning – not just testing – in all of our nation’s public schools.

In November of 2009, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting a recent study which found that the mandates within the NCLB Act promoted negative educational practices.

“This report reaffirms my concern that the No Child Left Behind Law’s one-size-fits-all approach and heavy focus on high-stakes testing is causing problems in schools, particularly schools that serve our most disadvantaged students. The study found that problematic teaching practices like teaching to the test and spending more time on test preparation are happening more frequently in high-poverty and high-minority schools, many of which already have less access to high-quality teachers and resources than more affluent schools. While responsible testing is an important part of measuring achievement and holding schools accountable, it should not come at the expense of providing students a well-rounded education that prepares them for success later in life.

In March of 2010, Senator Feingold wrote a letter to the heads of the education committees and addressed the need for changes to NCLB. In that letter, he spoke about the following items:

• Improving assessments and accountability systems
• Preparing Students for the Global Economy
• Bringing Teachers to the Table
• Using Service Learning to Close the Achievement Gap
• Addressing the Needs of the Whole Child

In April of 2010, Senator Feingold called for a review of the NCLB mandates and requesting that the following items be addressed in an upcoming hearing:

 

Legislation to Change NCLB

In December of 2009, Senator Feingold wrote an op-ed noting the Improving Student Testing Act which he planned to introduce as part of the NCLB reform.

In September of 2010, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting his support for two pieces of legislation that he was proposing with Senator Leahy to reform No Child Left Behind. 

 

Child Nutrition Program

In October of 2007, Senator Feingold issued a press statement noting his belief that school breakfast programs should be expanded to include more schools and children.

The Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act would provide grants for schools wishing to begin or expand universal school breakfast programs. Studies show that kids who eat breakfast perform better in school and on tests, and they tend to be less disruptive to the class, and I have heard many stories from teachers, school nurses, and other school officials over the years to confirm this. In fact, last year in my home state of Wisconsin, with the support of Senator Kohl, the Milwaukee Public Schools worked with the Hunger Task Force to implement universal school breakfast programs in more than 60 schools. This program, which has expanded in its second year, has proven popular with students, teachers, and parents.

That same month, Senator Feingold released a press statement summarizing what he hoped to accomplish in the Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2007.

Qualifying schools could use the Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2007 grant money for a number of uses, including:

• Establish, promote, or expand a universal school breakfast program
• Provide breakfast during the school day
• Increase the quantity of local or fresh food available
• Provide nutritional education materials to students
• Incorporate farming in school lessons or field trips

In August of 2010, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting recent legislation that he had introduced to increase funding and other items related to school breakfasts.

The child nutrition bill:

• Contains $4.5 billion in new funding for child nutrition programs;
• Increases the Federal reimbursement school lunches by six cents, which will help schools provide healthier foods to children participating in the program;
• Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish nutritional standards for all food sold in schools consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and
• Expands use of direct certification to include children who participate in the Medicaid program. 

 

2010 Re-Election Website Statements

 

 

Voting Record

College Cost Reduction and Access Act

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act is a significant education bill dealing largely with funding for higher education. The bill removes tuition sensitivity for Pell Grants, increases the amount available for Pell grants, Funds the Upward Bound program, establishes the TEACH Grants, reduces student loan repayment rates, sets deferments based on need and establishes some partner based grants. The bill got a great deal of support in the Senate and passed easily. Russ Feingold voted in favor of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

Standards vs Tutors

Again in 2001, the Senate voted on another amendment which would authorize $200 million to provide grants to help states develop assessment systems that describe student achievement. This amendment would replace a previous amendment which would allow parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors. The amendment was widely supported by Democrats, but widely opposed by Republicans. It failed to pass in a 50-47 vote. Russ Feingold voted in favor of the amendment and supported developing standards over private tutors.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

No Child Left Behind was the primary focus of the Bush administration prior to 9/11. The bill requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades, if those states are to receive federal funding for schools. The Act does not assert a national achievement standard; standards are set by each individual state. The bill got the support of all but 2 Democrats and all but 6 Republicans and passed the Senate in a 91-8 vote. Russ Feingold voted against the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Amendment - Voucher Program

In June 2001, Senator Gregg introduced an amendment to create a test voucher program for low income students in failing schools. The program would have been in 10 cities and three states. Russ Feingold voted against the voucher program.

Teachers vs Tutors

In 2001, the Senate voted on an amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act which would have provided $2.4 billion in funding in fiscal 2002 for state and local services to hire up to 100,00 additional teachers. This amendment would replace an amendment allowing parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors. Every Democrat that voted supported the amendment, and every Republican that voted opposed the amendment. Russ Feingold voted in favor of the amendment and supported hiring teachers over tutors.

Affordable Education Act of 2000

The Affordable Education Act of 2000 was voted on in early 2000. Among other things, the bill would have allowed tax-free savings accounts of up to $2000 per child annually to be used for public or private school tuition or other education expenses. The bill passed the Senate in a 61-37 vote. Russ Feingold voted against the Affordable Education Act of 2000.

Rules Waiver

In 1999, the Senate voted on an amendment to the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 which would have allowed states to waive certain federal rules normally required in order to use federal school aid. A vote in favor of the amendment would have signified support for vouchers and school choice. Every Democrat that voted opposed the amendment, and every Republican that voted supported the amendment. Russ Feingold voted against the amendment and opposed school choice.

Education Savings and School Excellence Act of 1998

This 1998 legislation would have allowed people to take money from their IRAs to pay for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses, including home schooling expenses. It increased the annual contribution limit from $500 to $2,000. It permits corporations to contribute to education IRAs. Although the bill passed in the Senate easily, it was vetoed by the President. Russ Feingold voted against the Education Savings and School Excellence Act of 1998.

Education Savings Act and School Excellence Act of 1998

In 1998, the Education Savings Act for Public and Private Schools Education Savings and School Excellence Act of 1998 attempted to create tax-sheltered educational savings accounts. Although the bill got a majority of the votes, it did not get the numbers needed and failed to pass with the support of most Republicans, but the opposition of most Democrats. Russ Feingold voted against the Education Savings Act and School Excellence Act of 1998.

Amendment - Vouchers in DC

In 1999, the Senate voted on an amendment to the DC appropriations bill that would have installed a voucher system to allow students to choose to attend a private school, or any school other than their assigned public school. The measure failed to get the votes it needed with most Republicans supporting it and most Democrats voting in opposition to it. Russ Feingold voted against the DC voucher system.

 

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Session-111; Bill Number-S 3739; Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010 - Cosponsor

Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to require: (1) states to use grants for safe and drug-free schools to collect and report information on the incidence of bullying and harassment; and (2) local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools to use subgrants to prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment. Requires such LEAs or schools to: (1) notify parents and students annually of conduct prohibited in their school discipline policies, that now must include bullying and harassment; and (2) establish grievance procedures for students and parents to register complaints regarding such conduct.

Session-111; Bill Number-S 3739; Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010 - Cosponsor

Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to require: (1) states to use grants for safe and drug-free schools to collect and report information on the incidence of bullying and harassment; and (2) local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools to use subgrants to prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment. Requires such LEAs or schools to: (1) notify parents and students annually of conduct prohibited in their school discipline policies, that now must include bullying and harassment; and (2) establish grievance procedures for students and parents to register complaints regarding such conduct.

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