Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committee say they are ready and eager to help the White House in implementing recommendations contained in the National Performance Review report.
In a letter to Vice President Gore, who directed the review, the Republicans last month applauded the effort to streamline government and make it more efficient, and they pledged their support in enacting recommendations relating to the Education Department.
“Education and Labor Committee Republicans intend to be full partners in your effort to pass legislation to accomplish the initiatives mentioned in this letter,’' the letter read.
The Republicans specifically cited six areas of interest, many addressed in either the report or in the department’s proposal for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
They include changing the Chapter 1 program to provide more flexibility, to include higher achievement standards, and to improve accountability; consolidating programs; merging technical-assistance centers; providing states and districts more flexibility in administering programs; making student-aid programs more efficient; and improving departmental management.
However, they suggested that the Administration’s reauthorization proposal to consolidate the Chapter 2 and Eisenhower Mathematics and Science program--and devote the money to professional development--is “at odds with’’ the goal of providing flexibility to state and local governments.
The letter suggested that the Administration not abandon the consolidation but that educators be allowed to use the funds for any type of school reform.
Jamienne S. Studley has joined the Education Department as deputy general counsel for regulations and legislative service.
A former faculty member at the University of California at Berkeley Law School, Ms. Studley was most recently the executive director of the California Abortion Rights Action League.
Meanwhile, Ann S. Young, who served for 10 years on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Subcommittee on Education, Arts, and Humanities, has been named director of Congressional liaison for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Prior to her work with the subcommittee, Ms. Young served as the Congressional liaison and an education specialist with America’s Public Television Stations, which represents the nation’s 351 such stations.
--M.P.
