Education Bill Approved By Senate
Would Boost Funding for Low Income California Students
June 14, 2001

Washington, D.C. - The landmark education reform bill approved by the U.S. Senate today includes several amendments sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) including a provision to ensure that any increase in Title I funds for disadvantaged students be distributed according to the state’s low-income student population.

Based on the budget presented by President Bush, which provides for a $459 million nationwide increase in Title I funds, this amendment by Senator Feinstein would provide an increase of $98 million to California schools.

“Federal education dollars should go where our nation’s poor children are, and I am delighted that the Senate accepted that principle,” Senator Feinstein said. “Unfortunately, over the past few years, California has lost more than $120 million in Title I funds because of a ‘hold harmless’ provision that keeps slow-growth states at the same funding level they received the previous year despite the decline in the number of children. The provision has especially hurt high growth states such as California, where student enrollment has increased at triple the national rate.”

The final Education and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) also included an amendment by Senator Feinstein to allow states and local school districts to apply for matching grants to build smaller schools. The upper limits on the number of students would be for elementary schools, 500 students; middle schools, 750 students; and high schools, 1,000. The funds would come from Title V of the ESEA, which provides an authorization of $850 million in FY 2002 to help local school districts improve school, student and teacher performance.

“Building smaller schools is one of the most important steps we can make to reform public education in this nation,” Senator Feinstein said. “The facts show that children educated in smaller schools have higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, a greater sense of belonging, less drug and alcohol abuse, and fewer discipline problems.”

Other amendments by Senator Feinstein included in the final ESEA bill are:

• Title I -- Use of Funds: Seeks to maximize the amount of Title I funds available for educating low-income students by prohibiting school districts from using funds for non-academic purposes such as the purchase or lease of privately-owned facilities, facilities maintenance, gardening, landscaping, janitorial services, payment of utility costs, construction of facilities, acquisition of real property, payment of travel and attendance costs at conferences or other meetings, other than travel and attendance for professional development.

• Title I -- Audit: Requires the Inspector General to conduct an audit to determine how Title I funds are used and the degree to which they are used for academic instruction.

• Master Teachers: Encourages school districts to create master teacher positions by allowing the districts to use the teacher training funds authorized in the bill to increase teacher salaries for excellent teachers to mentor and supervise other teachers, in an effort to keep new teachers in teaching.

• Head Start Teachers: Forgives up to $5,000 of federal student loans for college graduates who agree to teach in Head Start programs, in an effort to put more trained teachers in pre-school programs.

• Gun-Free Schools: Refines the current law that requires a one-year expulsion for students who “bring” a gun to school, by also requiring expulsion of students who “possess” a gun at school; and clarifies that the term “school” means the entire school campus or any setting under the control and supervision of the local school district. It also requires that all modifications of expulsions be put in writing.