Lugar
Lugar Response
30/05/11 15:05
Dear Dr. Burney:
Thank you for contacting me to share your support for the TALENT Act. I appreciate your continuing advocacy for the education of gifted and talented students.
This legislation aims to address the needs of gifted students through assessment requirements and increased support for educators, and authorizes funding for an entity to develop and disseminate best practices for meeting the needs of gifted students, among other provisions. The TALENT Act was introduced on April 14, 2011, and was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for further review.
I anticipate that the education of gifted students will be discussed during a reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act; however, it remains unclear when a formal reauthorization may occur. I will continue to monitor discussions in Congress, as well as any proposals that are made by the Obama Administration and key stakeholders in the education field, in anticipation of future consideration of a reauthorization.
The foundation for a quality education begins at a young age, which is why I have supported efforts at the federal level for early childhood education and child development. For example, I strongly support funding for the Head Start program. In my estimation, Head Start is one of the most valuable programs funded by the federal government. This program has proven beneficial as it serves to prepare children for school and emphasizes parental involvement in the development of their children. The recently passed Continuing Resolution to fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2011 included approximately $7.5 billion for Head Start.
I also believe that early literacy is a key indicator of a child's future success. Fostering a love of literature through daily reading plays an important role in reaching that goal. Toward that end, I have partnered with the Indiana State Teacher's Association (ISTA) in conducting the annual Lugar-ISTA book drive. The book drive collects books to be distributed to children who might not otherwise have them at home. Over the last two years, we have collected and distributed nearly 60,000 books. We look forward to expanding this effort this year with the help of the Indiana Library Federation.
Along with early childhood education initiatives, I believe proper nutrition is another key component of academic success, and I have been a strong proponent of child nutrition efforts throughout my career. In 1995, I led the successful opposition to ending the federal school lunch program. I informed my colleagues that the nutritional needs of a poor child who has no choice of geographical location do not differ from state to state and that all children who meet certain criteria should be provided a lunch. As a result of my efforts, the federal school lunch program survived.
I firmly believe that a strong public school system is vital to our state and our nation. While many of our public schools are doing well, some are not. We must keep working toward a day when all children are reaching their potential.
Thank you, again, for contacting me. I hope you will continue to contact me on issues of importance to you.
Sincerely,
Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator
Thank you for contacting me to share your support for the TALENT Act. I appreciate your continuing advocacy for the education of gifted and talented students.
This legislation aims to address the needs of gifted students through assessment requirements and increased support for educators, and authorizes funding for an entity to develop and disseminate best practices for meeting the needs of gifted students, among other provisions. The TALENT Act was introduced on April 14, 2011, and was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for further review.
I anticipate that the education of gifted students will be discussed during a reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act; however, it remains unclear when a formal reauthorization may occur. I will continue to monitor discussions in Congress, as well as any proposals that are made by the Obama Administration and key stakeholders in the education field, in anticipation of future consideration of a reauthorization.
The foundation for a quality education begins at a young age, which is why I have supported efforts at the federal level for early childhood education and child development. For example, I strongly support funding for the Head Start program. In my estimation, Head Start is one of the most valuable programs funded by the federal government. This program has proven beneficial as it serves to prepare children for school and emphasizes parental involvement in the development of their children. The recently passed Continuing Resolution to fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2011 included approximately $7.5 billion for Head Start.
I also believe that early literacy is a key indicator of a child's future success. Fostering a love of literature through daily reading plays an important role in reaching that goal. Toward that end, I have partnered with the Indiana State Teacher's Association (ISTA) in conducting the annual Lugar-ISTA book drive. The book drive collects books to be distributed to children who might not otherwise have them at home. Over the last two years, we have collected and distributed nearly 60,000 books. We look forward to expanding this effort this year with the help of the Indiana Library Federation.
Along with early childhood education initiatives, I believe proper nutrition is another key component of academic success, and I have been a strong proponent of child nutrition efforts throughout my career. In 1995, I led the successful opposition to ending the federal school lunch program. I informed my colleagues that the nutritional needs of a poor child who has no choice of geographical location do not differ from state to state and that all children who meet certain criteria should be provided a lunch. As a result of my efforts, the federal school lunch program survived.
I firmly believe that a strong public school system is vital to our state and our nation. While many of our public schools are doing well, some are not. We must keep working toward a day when all children are reaching their potential.
Thank you, again, for contacting me. I hope you will continue to contact me on issues of importance to you.
Sincerely,
Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator