EMERSON PUSHES FOR FEDERAL 'DIRECT CHECK' FUNDING FOR EDUCATION

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson wants to return federal education dollars directly to the nation's schools.

Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, has introduced legislation to provide a "direct check for education."

The bill is patterned after one introduced on the Senate side by Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo.

First-year funding would total about $3 billion. Over five years, the measure would provide about $20 billion in direct checks to local schools.

The money would be distributed based on the number of students in each school district. The districts would decide how to spend the money. It could be used for everything from textbooks to computers, construction of school buildings to job training, and literacy programs to programs that educate students about drug and alcohol abuse.

If it becomes law, the "Direct Check for Education" measure would provide over $60 million a year for Missouri and potentially more than $325 million over the next five years.

Emerson's bill has the backing of fellow Republican lawmakers from Missouri -- Reps. Jim Talent, Roy Blunt and Kenny Hulshof.

Emerson said current federal funding procedures fall far short in helping the nation's schools.

"One of the problems is that 35 percent of federal education funds are spent on meeting the operation budgets of the more than 760 federal education programs spread out between 39 different agencies," she said. The result is that only 65 cents of each education dollar makes it to the classrooms.

"This diversion of funds is particularly burdensome on rural communities," she said.

Southern Missouri's school districts are limited in local funding options. "We simply need more of our education dollars returned to us," said Emerson.

Federal regulations and mandates tie schools' hands and cut into teaching time.

If a school district applies for a Department of Education grant, the entire process can take 26 weeks and 487 steps from beginning to end, Emerson said. "That's six months and countless hours spent on applying for a grant, all without any guarantee that the funds will be approved," she said.

Emerson said she has heard from teachers in southern Missouri who spend up to three days out of a week writing grants and filling out paperwork. The congresswoman said this is time that could better be spent on teaching.

"It seems to me that our education system needs fewer bureaucrats in Washington crunching numbers and dreaming up federal mandates, and more teachers in our local schools educating our children," she said.