HJR 259 Summary

• Requests that the United States Department of Education provide competitive sources of additional federal funding to states through voluntary partnership to improve public school effectiveness and fairness.

• Defines "fairness" as equitable funding allocation per pupil based on need, with an annual baseline of $9,585 per pupil (adjusted for comparative wage index) or within 10 percent of current funding levels, whichever is greater.

• Requests immediate federal funding awards to states with the highest National Assessment of Educational Progress scores in reading and math (cumulative scores above 473 in fourth grade, 563 in eighth grade, and 450 in twelfth grade), conditional on sharing educational reform information.

• Requests that the Department of Education pay each full-time national board certified public school teacher a $5,000 annual bonus if 50 percent of their students meet grade-level proficiency benchmarks on standardized assessments over a 10-year period, subject to union agreement.

• Directs that copies of the resolution be sent to the President, Secretary of Education, all state governors, state boards of education, and chief state school officers.