Ensign calls for more school funds

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, March 1, 2001 | 11:07 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Freshman Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., pitched a plan to send more federal money for education to fast-growing states like Nevada during his first speech on the Senate floor today.

Ensign proposed making the "High Growth Grant" part of a larger bill that would funnel more Title I money to states such as Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Florida. Title I money -- funds for schools in low-income areas -- makes up the bulk of federal money that goes to schools nationwide. Title I money is a tiny fraction of the Clark County School District's $1.1 billion budget -- just $16 million this school year.

"Under Title I, funding is based on the number of Title I students in each state," Ensign said. "But the Department of Education updates these numbers only once every four years. For Nevada, which has grown on average 5 percent per year for the last 10 years, this has created an untenable situation."

The grant would not dramatically alter the Title I funding formula but would make changes so that dollars would keep pace with fast-growing districts like Clark County, which builds roughly 10 new schools a year.

"The theme of President Bush's education plan is 'No Child Left Behind,' " Ensign said. "But under the current system, children are getting left behind in fast-growing states like Nevada -- and the president's plan does not adequately address this problem."

Clark County's Title I administrator Mark Lange said Ensign's plan "would be wonderful." Lange noted that states that are losing population are fighting to keep their current Title I money levels.

Ensign also voiced strong support for Bush's plan to offer vouchers for children in failing public schools -- money they could use for charter or private schools. He called on educators to also continue looking for other alternatives.

Ensign backed Bush's plan for more money for teacher professional development. He called for the end to social promotion in schools and said teachers and principals should have more freedom to "restore order" in classrooms.

"The federal government can work with state and local school districts to ensure that teachers and administrators have the freedom to discipline violent and disruptive students without the fear of lawsuits," Ensign said.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., affirmed their shared commitment to work together. Reid is a political opposite of Ensign, whom he defeated in a 1998 Senate race (the Republican was elected last year after a race with Ed Bernstein).

Reid and Ensign said their bipartisan cooperation could be an "example for the Senate," which is split with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats.

"He feels strongly about education," Reid said of Ensign. "I'm very proud of his first speech."