Exemptions to Achievement Standards. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) offered this amendment to exempt students from proposed achievement standards if they had not been "afforded … an opportunity to learn the material necessary to meet the State achievement standards." Vaguely worded definitions of "opportunity" would allow a multitude of exceptions to an already meddlesome proposed federal requirement for states and local school districts receiving funds to implement achievement standards.
The Wellstone amendment was rejected by the Senate on March 2, 2000 by a vote of 29-69 (Roll Call 30). We have assigned pluses to the nays.
