Policy Update

Here's what's going on in education:

From the Illinois Federation of Teachers' Edbrief section:
CONGRESS PASSES MAJOR EDUCATION BILL Congress approved a measure that would give states more freedom in how they spend federal education money. The House approved the "Ed-Flex" bill 368-57 and the Senate 98-1. President Clinton said he would sign it "without delay." The bill would enable states and school districts to be released from some rules that ordinarily must be met to obtain federal funding. In exchange, they would have to set up their own programs under which they would be accountable for better educational results. It would expand to all 50 states and the District of Columbia a demonstration program set up in 1994 that was limited to 12 states. To participate in the Ed-Flex program under the bill, states would have to apply to the education secretary for a waiver from the normal rules, explaining what educational goals would be evaluated. The waiver could be revoked after three years if the secretary concludes the state is not meeting its objectives. Jim Abrams, The Associated Press "Congress passes major education bill- and Clinton promises to sign it" as published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 22, 1999, A3 (http://www.seattle-pi.com)