Formal Testimony and Comment 2003

Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to testify before you today on the number one ingredient of high achievement: quality teachers.  This Committee has already exhibited great leadership in the effort to improve teacher quality by including important new teacher-related provisions in the Higher Education Act of 1998 and, more recently, by including expansive teacher-related provisions in No Child Left Behind.  These were very important first steps. 

My purpose here this afternoon is to remind you why this subject should remain high on your agenda as you reauthorize the Higher Education Act and to suggest some ways in which you might build on the momentum you created in the earlier laws.