Sunday, April 15, 2007

Investigative Hearing on Reading First

U.S. Rep George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today confirmed that the following individuals have voluntarily agreed to testify about the implementation of the Reading First program at the committee's investigative hearing into the mismanagement and conflicts of interest in the program on Friday, April 20:

John P. ("Jack") Higgins, Jr., Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education

Christopher Doherty, former Program Director for Reading First, U.S. Department of Education

Dr. Roland H. Good, Associate Professor, University of Oregon

Dr. Edward Kame'enui, Department of Education Commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research, U.S. Department of Education

In addition, Miller announced that the committee today served a congressional subpoena to Dr. Deborah C. Simmons, Professor of Special Education at Texas A&M University.

Counsel representing Dr. Simmons raised genuine concerns about whether his client would appear voluntarily when he failed to return several calls from committee staff last week seeking confirmation that Dr. Simmons would accept the invitation to testify. After all other invitees affirmed their commitment to appear before the full Committee on April 20, counsel for Dr. Simmons responded by requesting additional hearing dates that did not conflict with his schedule.

As provided for in the Committee Rules, Miller has the power to authorize and issue subpoenas. The subpoena was issued to ensure that the committee is able to gather thorough information from all key witnesses at the investigative hearing; a part of an ongoing investigation that committee staff is conducting into the implementation of the program.

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