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Dan Benishek on Education
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Voted YES on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program.
Congressional Summary:The SOAR Act award five-year grants on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations to carry out an expanded school choice opportunities to students who are District of Columbia residents and who come from households: - receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or
- with incomes not exceeding 185% of the poverty line.
Provides funds to the Mayor of DC, if the Mayor agrees to specified requirements, for: - the DC public schools to improve public education, and
- the DC public charter schools to improve and expand quality public charter schools.
Proponent's Argument for voting Yes:
[Rep. Bishop, R-UT]: In 1996, Congress insisted upon a charter school program in DC. You will hear from both sides of the aisle recognition of the great value that that program has, and justifiably so. There is a waiting list in DC for those charter schools.
This bill increases the percentage of funding going to charter schools in the District. In 2003, an Opportunity Scholarship was instituted, at the insistence of Congress. Again, there was a waiting list of people wanting the opportunity; disadvantaged kids who wanted the opportunity that this scholarship afforded them. There were 216 kids at the time scheduled to enter the program who were not allowed; the bill remedies that.
Opponent's Argument for voting No:
[Rep. Hastings, D-FL]: In the last 41 years voters have rejected private school vouchers every time they have been proposed. In 1981, 89% of the people in a referendum in DC voted against vouchers. So how dare we come here to tell these people that we are going to thrust upon them something they don't want without a single public official in this community being consulted. Congress' oversight of the District is not an excuse for political pandering to the Republicans' special interest of the day du jour.
Reference: Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR);
Bill HRes186
; vote number 11-HV200
on Mar 30, 2011
Sponsored supporting the contributions of Catholic schools.
Benishek co-sponsored House Resolution on parochial schools
- WHEREAS Catholic schools in the US are internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence, and provide students with more than an exceptional scholastic education;
- WHEREAS Catholic schools instill a broad, values-added education emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, intellectual, physical, and social values in young people in the United States;
- WHEREAS Catholic schools provide a high level of service to the Nation by providing a diverse student population from all regions of the country and all socio-economic backgrounds, with more than 30% of students from minority backgrounds and nearly 15.4% non-Catholic, a strong academic and moral foundation;
- WHEREAS Catholic schools are an affordable option for parents, particularly in underserved urban areas;
- WHEREAS Catholic schools are committed to community service, producing graduates who hold 'helping others' as one of their core values;
- WHEREAS the total Catholic school student enrollment for the
2011-2012 academic year was over 2,000,000 and the student-teacher ratio was 13 to 1;
- WHEREAS the week of January 27, 2013, to February 2, 2013, has been designated as National Catholic Schools Week;
Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Ho
Source: H.RES.46 13-HRes46 on Jan 23, 2013
Denounce the Common Core State Standards.
Benishek co-sponsored Resolution against Common Core
Congressional summary:: Strongly denouncing the President's coercion of States into adopting the Common Core State Standards by conferring preferences in Federal grants:
- Whereas the development of the Common Core State Standards has transformed into an incentives-based mandate from the Federal Government;
- Whereas the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 prohibits the establishment of a national curriculum by the Department of Education;
- Whereas President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced competitive grants through the Race to the Top program to adopt 'internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace';
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--- States and local educational agencies should maintain the right and responsibility of determining educational curricula;
- the Federal Government should not incentivize
the adoption of common education standards; and
- no application process for any Federal grant funds should provide any preference for the adoption of the Common Core State Standards.
Opponent's argument against (CoreStandards.org): The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. 45 states have adopted the Common Core State Standards [not adopted in TX, NE, AK, MN, and VA]. The nation's governors and education commissioners, through their representative organizations the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the development of the Common Core State Standards and continue to lead the initiative. Teachers, parents, school administrators and experts from across the country together with state leaders provided input into the development of the standards.
Source: HRes.476 & SRes.345 14-HR0476 on Feb 11, 2014
Page last updated: Jan 24, 2017