Aumua Advises ASDOE of Increased Education Funding
Pago Pago –Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, in a letter to the Director of the American Samoa Department of Education, formally advised the Director that as a result of her negotiations with House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman, John Kline, the American Samoa Department of Education will see a dramatic increase in funding beginning in 2017.
"I could not be more pleased with the signing of the bill by President Obama," stated Amata. "The formula change that I was able to negotiate with Chairman Kline of the House Education Workforce Committee will allow for a huge increase to the island's budget for education," continued the Congresswoman.
In 2015, the American Samoa Department of Education budget was approximately $10 million. The new formula negotiated by Congresswoman Amata will allow for an approximate 40 percent increase to the education budget beginning in 2017. This 40 percent increase means that the education budget in 2017 will be approximately $14 million.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which President Obama signed into law today, is a five year reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which authorizes funding for the states' education departments.
While the bill was still in the jurisdiction of the House Education & Workforce Committee, Congresswoman Amata met with Chairman John Kline of Minnesota to express the need for a change in the way the funds are distributed to the territories. The Congresswoman was able to clearly express the need for a change to the formula and the challenges that American Samoa faces in educating our young people. Following the discussion with Congresswoman Amata, Chairman Kline clearly saw the need for the change, and it is reflected in the bill the President signed into law today.
"This bill returns control of education to the states and territories, which falls in line with my 10th Amendment guiding efforts across all issues that affect American Samoa," said Amata. The 10th Amendment states that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated to it by the United States Constitution, and all remaining powers are reserved for the states or the people.
This new authorization loosens the stringent federal oversight of the failed policies of "No Child Left Behind". The bill also reduces federal oversight, and addresses issues such as accountability, testing requirements, distribution and requirements for grants, fiscal accountability requirements, and the evaluation of teachers. It also provides states with increased flexibility and responsibility for developing accountability systems, deciding how federally required tests should be weighed, selecting additional measures of student and school performance, and implementing teacher evaluation systems.
"I want to thank Chairman Kline and his committee staff for their hard work and dedication in seeing this measure through Congress and on to the President's desk. I also want to again thank my colleague Congressman Sablan of CNMI, whose assistance on the issue was indispensable," said Amata. "Relationships are important and even though I have been in the U.S. House for less than a year, I have been fortunate that many of these relationships stem from my experience with Congress over the years and have allowed me to build on that foundation. I am excited and encouraged by this action, as it seems that the federal government is finally beginning to listen to the needs of our people, and I will continue to work to ensure that American Samoa receives funding that is proportionate to our needs," concluded Amata.
Congresswoman Aumua Amata with school children in American Samoa
(Courtesy Photo: Leua Aiono Frost)
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