David Bonior on Education

Former Democratic Representative (MI-10)

Voted YES on requiring states to test students.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Vote to pass a bill that would authorize $22.8 billion in education funding, a 29 percent increase from fiscal 2001. The bill would require states to test students to track progress. Reference: Bill sponsored by Boehner R-OH; Bill HR 1 ; vote number 2001-145 on May 23, 2001

Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools.

Vote to create a non-profit corporation to administer federally-funded vouchers for low-income children in the District of Columbia. Reference: Amendment introduced by Armey, R-TX; Bill HR 4380 ; vote number 1998-411 on Aug 6, 1998

Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools.

Vote to pass a bill to allow states to use certain federal funds designated for elementary and secondary education to provide scholarships, or vouchers, to low-income families to send their children to private schools, including religious schools. Reference: Bill sponsored by Riggs, R-CA; Bill HR 2746 ; vote number 1997-569 on Nov 4, 1997

Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer.

Motion to add language to the "Goals 2000: Educate America Act" to give federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. Bill HR 1804 ; vote number 1994-85 on Mar 23, 1994

Teacher development grants to improve math & science classes.

Bonior co-sponsored the National Improvement in Mathematics and Science Teaching Act:

Title: To improve the quality and scope of science and mathematics education.

Summary:

make grants to States for improvement and recruitment of quality teachers in science and mathematics education;
make grants to States for professional development of mathematics and science teachers;
establish 15 John Glenn Academies, for summer workshops and intensive, year-long fellowships for 3,000 individuals to prepare them to meet State certification requirements;
establish and operate a National Clearinghouse of Best Practices to coordinate successful and proven professional development opportunities for teachers;
make grants to improve science and mathematics education, and encourage more students to enter the fields of mathematics, science, and technology;
make grants to promote both achievement equity and gender equity in mathematics and science education;
establish a tax credit for businesses that employ science, mathematics, and technology teachers in summer fellowships related to their fields of teaching; and
establish a fair market value tax deduction for charitable contributions of science, mathematics, or technology equipment to public elementary and secondary schools.

Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR117 on Jan 3, 2001

Opposes requiring schools to allow school prayer.

Bonior co-sponsored a bill weakening the requirements on voluntary prayer:

H.R.340:

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve the quality of public education and raise student achievement by increasing investment, strengthening accountability, raising standards for teachers, improving professional development and teacher compensation, rewarding successful schools, and providing better information to parents, and for other purposes.

H.R.340: SEC. 10410. SCHOOL PRAYER.

Any State or local educational agency that is adjudged by a Federal court of competent jurisdiction to have willfully violated a Federal court order mandating that such local educational agency remedy a violation of the constitutional right of any student with respect to prayer in public schools, shall be ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act until such time as the local educational agency complies with such order.

Opposing legislation H.R.1:

No DOE funds shall be available to any educational agency which prevents participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public schools by individuals on a voluntary basis. [This is weakened in HR340 by requiring a federal court ruling on each school district before the removal of DOE funds.]

Source: H.R.340 01-HR340 on Jan 31, 2001

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