XXXX Voted Against $6 Billion for the Teacher Quality Grant Program. XXXX on May 8, 2001, voted against expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should provide states with $6 billion over seven years to train teachers and ensure that they are competent in the subjects they teach. Schools with large numbers of poor students would be required to make all their teachers “highly qualified” within four years or lose some Title I funding. [S 1, Vote 94, 5/8/01] XXXX Voted Against Democratic Compromise Education Bill; Mandated Teacher Certification Had Less Funding Than Alternate Democratic Proposal. In 2000, XXXX voted against a moderate Democratic proposal compromising between Republicans seeking increased local control of education dollars and fellow Democrats pushing specific federal programs. The proposal consolidated more than 40 federal education programs and targeting money to poor students. The bill also mandated State certification for teachers' aides and other paraprofessionals, as well as repeal the Reading Excellence Act, the Gifted and Talented Education program, and the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program. The amendment would also provide funding for federal education programs, including money for class-size reduction, public school choice, and accountability grants. The vote was on the Lieberman substitute amendment to the Educational Opportunities Act. [Vote 95, 5/9/00; Deseret News, 5/10/00] XXXX Voted To Increase School Accountability and Provide Alternative Certification for Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would increase accountability requirements for schools, would encourage alternative certification processes to hire private sector professionals as teachers, and would provide teacher liability protection (the Teachers' Bill of Rights). The amendment was agreed to, 97-0. [Vote 94, 5/9/00] XXXX Voted Against Funding For A Teacher Hiring Program. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment that would strike the $2 billion annual authorization for the bill's Teacher Empowerment Act (TEA) provisions. After striking the TEA provisions, the Murray amendment would authorize $1.75 billion annually for the teacher hiring program, which imposes specific mandates on recipients on how they must spend the funds they receive. The amendment was rejected, 44-53. [Vote 93, 5/4/00] XXXX Voted For Flexibility in the Use of Federal Funds for Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would amend the Teacher Empowerment Act (TEA) to permit State and local education agencies to use the Federal TEA funds that they receive: to reform teacher tenure systems; to establish teacher compensation systems based on merit and proven performance; and to test teachers periodically in the academic subjects they teach. The amendment was agreed to, 54-42. [Vote 92, 5/4/00] XXXX Voted Against Allowing Flexibility In The Use Of Funds For Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment that would say that TEA funds could be used: to implement programs that reward all teachers in schools that improve student achievement for all students; to provide incentives and subsidies for teachers to gain advanced degrees in the subjects they teach; to implement rigorous peer review, evaluation, and recertification programs for teachers; and to provide incentives for highly qualified teachers to teach in the neediest schools. The amendment was rejected, 43-54. [Vote 91, 5/4/00] XXXX Voted Against Increase In Funding For Hiring, Training, And Mentoring New Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted in favor of the proposed education savings account tax breaks and against the authorization of new federal spending of $1.2 billion over five years for the Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom Act. The amendment would provide federal funding to hire, train, and mentor new public school teachers. [Vote 25, 3/2/00; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/2/00] XXXX Opposed Shifting Funds From Tax Breaks For Education Savings Accounts To A Teacher Hiring Program. In 2000, XXXX voted to allow the proposed education savings account (ESA) tax breaks, rather than authorize $1.2 billion in new federal spending in fiscal year 2001 for a teacher hiring program at Title I schools. [Vote 21, 3/1/00; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/1/00] XXXX Voted To Provide Tax Relief For Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would eliminate the 2-percent floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions for qualified professional development 77