PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 35 · Passed Senate amended · Mar 11, 1999
Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to allow all States to participate in the Education Flexibility Partnership (Ed-Flex Partnership) program.(Sec. 4) Requires Ed-Flex Partnership States to: (1) have in place approved challenging content standards, challenging performance measures, and aligned assessments or have made substantial progress towards having an approved plan under ESEA title I; (2) hold local educational agencies (LEAs) accountable for meeting the educational goals submitted in their local applications for waivers, and for taking corrective actions if they have not met such goals; and (3) waive State educational requirements while holding LEAs or schools affected by such waivers accountable for student performance.Sets forth requirements for: (1) State educational agency (SEA) applications and approval by the Secretary; and (2) local applications and approval and monitoring by SEAs. Requires State applications to describe how: (1) the educational flexibility plan is consistent with the State's comprehensive reform plan or is coordinated with State educational content and student performance standards under specified ESEA provisions; and (2) the SEA will evaluate student performance in schools and LEAs affected by the waivers. Requires local applications to describe specific goals for each school year for each LEA or school affected by the waivers. Requires State and local applications to assure that wide-spread public notice and opportunity for comment will be given. Prohibits State approval of a local waiver application unless: (1) the LEA or school has developed an applicable local reform plan; and (2) the waiver will help in meeting the LEA's or school's educational goals, particularly those relating to school and student performance. Limits Federal waivers to five years, unless the Secretary extends such period upon determining that such waiver authority has been effective in enabling such SEAs or affected LEAs or schools to carry out local reform plans.Authorizes the Secretary to carry out the Ed-Flex Partnership program for FY 2000 through 2004.Includes as statutory or regulatory requirements that may be waived under this Act those of programs under the Carl D. Perkins Education Act of 1998, and of the following programs under the Educational and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA): (1) title I Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards; (2) part B State and Local Activities under the title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program; (3) subpart 2 State and Local Programs for School Technology Resources (with specified exceptions), under part A Technology Education for All Students, of title III Technology for Education; (4) title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities; (5) title VI Innovative Education Program Strategies; and (6) the part C Emergency Immigrant Education Program under title VII Bilingual Education, Language Enhancement, and Language Acquisition Programs.Prohibits waivers for specified types of requirements, including the mandate to serve eligible school attendance areas in rank order under specified provisions of ESEA title I part A programs for disadvantaged children.Provides for continuing eligibility of any State educational agency (SEA) that has been granted waiver authority under the Ed-Flex Demonstration program of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and a provision referring to such program under the Department of Education Appropriations Act.Sets forth accountability requirements. Requires States to conduct annual performance reviews. Requires the Secretary, in deciding whether to extend the authority of an SEA to issue waivers, to review the progress of the SEA, LEA, or school affected by the waiver or authority toward the desired results described in its application.(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress biennially on the education flexibility partnership program.(Sec. 6) Amends the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1999 (DEAA) to allow LEAs to use specified funds to carry out part B (Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities) activities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (such funds are currently earmarked for reducing class size in elementary and secondary schools by hiring additional highly qualified teachers, through: (1) recruiting, hiring, and training certified regular and special education teachers and teachers of special needs children; (2) testing new teachers; and (3) providing professional development to teachers).Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to design class size reduction or other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded.(Sec. 7) Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to develop dropout prevention or other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded.(Sec. 8) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out part B activities under IDEA.(Sec. 9) Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to develop afterschool or other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded.(Sec. 10) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out part B activities under IDEA.(Sec. 11) Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to develop programs to reduce social promotion and establish school accountability procedures, or develop other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded.(Sec. 12) Amends IDEA to allow a school to place a child with a disability in an alternative educational setting for up to 45 days if the child possesses a weapon at school or a school function or on school premises (thus expanding current law which covers carrying a weapon to school or to a school function).(Sec. 13) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out part B activities under IDEA.
People & committees
Rep. Castle, Michael N. [R-DE-At Large] · R–DE
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 106-25.
Became Public Law No: 106-25.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-1. Record Vote No: 89. (consideration: CR S3984-4005)
Senate roll call 89 · Individual votesConference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-1. Record Vote No: 89.(consideration: CR S3984-4005)
Senate roll call 89 · Individual votesConference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3984-4005)
On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 368 - 57 (Roll no. 94). (consideration: CR H2211-2218)
House roll call 94 · Individual votesMotions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 368 - 57 (Roll no. 94).(consideration: CR H2211-2218)
House roll call 94 · Individual votesThe previous question was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report on H.R. 800.
Mr. Goodling brought up conference report H. Rept. 106-100 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 143. (consideration: CR H2211-2218)
Rule H. Res. 143 passed House.
Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 143 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 800 with 1 hour of general debate. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived.
Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
Conference report H. Rept. 106-100 filed. (text of conference report: CR H2144-2148)
Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 106-100 filed.(text of conference report: CR H2144-2148)
Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3708-3709)
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Education and the Workforce: Goodling, Hoekstra, Castle, Greenwood, Souder, Schaffer, Clay, Kildee, Miller, George, and Payne.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House instruct conferees Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 205 - 222 (Roll no. 64).
House roll call 64 · Individual votesThe previous question was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 1 hour of debate on the motion to instruct conferees offered by Mr. Clay to instruct conferees to disagree to sections 6(b), 7(b), 9(b), and 11(b) of the Senate amendment, (adding new subsections to the end of section 307 of the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999), which is necessary to ensure the first year of funding to hire 100,000 new teachers to reduce class sizes in the early grades; and (2) to agree that additional funding be authorized to be appropriated under sections 8 and 10 of the Senate amendment for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, but not by reducing funds for class size reduction as proposed in sections 6(b), 7(b), 9(b), and 11 (b) of the Senate amendment.
Mr. Clay moved that the House instruct conferees.
On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H1549-1556, H1567)
Mr. Goodling asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate appointed conferees Jeffords; Gregg; Frist; Dewine; Enzi; Hutchinson; Collins; Brownback; Hagel; Sessions; Kennedy; Dodd; Harkin; Mikulski; Bingaman; Wellstone; Murray; Reed by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2569)
Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference.
Passed Senate in lieu of S. 280 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-1. Record Vote No: 48.
Senate roll call 48 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 280 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-1. Record Vote No: 48.
Senate roll call 48 · Individual votesSenate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 280 amended.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2542-2573)
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 37.
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 800.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 330 - 90 (Roll no. 41).
House roll call 41 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 330 - 90 (Roll no. 41).
House roll call 41 · Individual votesThe House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 800.
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1175-1177)
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 800 as unfinished business.
VOTE POSTPONED ON THE SCOTT AMENDMENT - The Chair put the question on agreeing to the Scott amendment by voice vote and announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Scott demanded a recorded vote pending the absence of a quorum. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 100, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the amendment and the point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Scott.
The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. George Miller of California.
The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Holt to the amendment offered by Mr. Ehlers.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 800.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Edward A. Pease to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 100 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 800 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Points of order against the bill for failure to comply with clause 4(a) of rule XIII are waived. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Amendments to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute must be pre-printed in the Congressional Record and shall be offered only by the sponsor submitting the amendment for printing.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 100. (consideration: CR H1089-1136; text as reported in House: CR H1098-1100)
Rule H. Res. 100 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 100 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 800 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Points of order against the bill for failure to comply with clause 4(a) of rule XIII are waived. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Amendments to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute must be pre-printed in the Congressional Record and shall be offered only by the sponsor submitting the amendment for printing.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 26.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 106-43.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 106-43.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 9.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E265)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jan 17, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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