UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN 3rd DISTRICT, NEBRASKA TOM OSBORNE

Washington Round-up Week of August 30, 2004

As School Bells Ring: Progress Made Receives High Marks

It is back-to-school time. As classes resume, students, teachers, and parents alike gear up for the school year ahead. It is obvious their efforts are paying off, too. Recently released 2004 ACT scores highlight a strong performance from Nebraska students. Of the 14 states that had at least 70 percent of students taking the test, Nebraska's average score was the highest. As a life-long educator, I am proud of their efforts and encourage all those involved to keep up the good work.

As the next school year gets underway, I would like to highlight some of the ‘good work’ done over the past year to ensure America’s schools have the resources to succeed. Congress and the Bush Administration have worked to:

Provide Funding for Rural School Districts
In 2003, 320 school districts in Nebraska received funds as a part of the Small Rural Schools Achievement Program. The large number of Nebraska school districts that have worked to secure Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) funds is very encouraging. Of the $7,116,374 in REAP funds awarded to school districts in Nebraska, $5,255,845 in funding was granted to school districts in the Third District. Clearly, REAP funding is critical to students and schools in our rural communities.

In the 107th Congress, I amended the No Child Left Behind Act to include REAP funding, which allows our rural schools to combine federal funds from select education programs and use the funds for smaller class size and teacher professional development.

Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs and Address Childhood Obesity
President George Bush signed into law legislation based on the Child Nutrition Improvement & Integrity Act to strengthen the integrity of federal child nutrition programs, help schools provide healthier meals to students, and ensure children eligible to participate in the federal child nutrition programs have access to services.

In addition, the legislation authorizes and expands the fresh fruit and vegetable pilot program, which is currently operating in a number of schools around the country with tremendous success. The bill also strengthens partnerships between local schools and local farmers in an effort to see more locally grown produce on school lunch tables.

Improve Vocational and Technical Education
Vocational education programs help young people succeed in an increasingly technical workforce. Recently, the Education and Workforce Committee passed the Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act, H.R. 4496, which is now ready for consideration by the full House. The bill, a reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, would strengthen and improve vocational and technical education programs. I offered an amendment, approved by the subcommittee, which would allow vocational and technical education programs to provide for activities to support entrepreneurship education and training.

Student entrepreneurship activities stimulate the local economy, foster youth retention, and improve students’ overall academic performance. Additionally, H.R. 4496 allows states and local school districts the option to utilize available federal funds to provide for activities that support such entrepreneurship education.

Support Rural School Teachers
Rep. Earl Pomeroy and I introduced legislation, the Incentives to Educate American Children (I-Teach) Act, which would provide a $1,000 annual, refundable tax credit to individuals teaching in schools located in rural and high unemployment rate areas, and to teachers who have achieved certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. As our rural schools face increasing out-migration of qualified teachers to more urban areas, Congress needs to offer the necessary incentives to ensure we retain and recruit the highest qualified teachers for our youth in Nebraska.

I look forward to seeing our education system improve as a result of these accomplishments and others. Over the years, I have witnessed both students and teachers face more challenges than ever before as America’s culture continues to evolve. Much of our future rests on their shoulders. As a Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, it remains a top priority of mine to deliver the support our students and educators deserve as the next school year begins.