Lawmakers Receive Grades on Programs

A yearlong congressional project to assess the effectiveness of federal educational programs came to Ventura County on Friday as local educators met with congressmen to tell them which programs work and which don’t.

Teachers, administrators and parents urged the federal government to cut down on paperwork for grant applications and to respond more quickly to calls from school districts. They cautioned federal officials not to make decisions based on partisan issues, and advised that special care should be taken to decide whether good programs aren’t working because not enough federal money is being invested in the first place.

“I hope you distinguish downsizing from downsizing services and downsizing bureaucracy,” said Martha Goodsell, who serves on the Ventura County PTA Board of Managers.

Others suggested additional programs that should be implemented nationally. For example, Phil Stephens, a former Simi Valley teacher and principal, advised that testing should be done both before and after students enter a grade level to gauge improvement levels.

Rep. Frank Riggs (R-Windsor), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, chose Ventura County for one of several nationwide visits he has made since January. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) hosted the forum and invited 300 education leaders to attend.

“Now we’re asking people in the local community which programs are working, which aren’t, which should be changed and which should be eliminated because they’re wasteful,” Riggs said. “We’ll distill it down and see if there is an emergent consensus and see if there is a basis for legislation.”

The federal government operates 860 educational programs at a cost of more than $120 billion, according to a study by a congressional committee on education and the work force last year.

Riggs and Gallegly urged educators to keep them abreast of how federal educational programs are working. Gallegly expressed disappointment that only 18 educators showed up for the forum.

“I appeal to you to go out and be our eyes and ears and a resource to get more folks involved,” Gallegly said.

He welcomed all educators to contact his office if they have input.