Republicans Reject Programs On Facilities, Class Size

By Joetta L. Sack

Washington

The federal school-facilities and class-size-reduction programs, two Clinton- era creations axed in President Bush's education plan, narrowly failed revival attempts last week, as revision of the flagship federal law for precollegiate education inched through Congress.

The Senate, with Republicans prevailing on strictly or nearly party-line votes, rejected two amendments to restore funding for the two programs. House Republicans, meanwhile, refused to allow a vote on the issues.

However, a separate element of the existing bills, setting aside block grants for "teacher quality" programs, including smaller classes, could mean states would have more money to spend on class-size reduction than...