[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 3639] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE OUACHITA PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT ______ HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER of louisiana in the house of representatives Monday, March 10, 2008 Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the Ouachita Parish School District for its designation as one of the top five school districts in the State of Louisiana, according to rankings recently released by the Department of Education. As test scores throughout the Fifth Congressional District steadily climb each year, I believe the continued success of the Ouachita Parish School District stands as an example of hope and encouragement to other schools in the state who are striving to improve their current rankings. The Fifth Congressional District has long struggled to overcome its status as one of the poorest regions in the country with an educational system that is often ranked very low. The achievements of the Ouachita Parish School District give me great hope that our region can defy its history. When children excel in school, the transformation that takes place within their lives spills out beyond the walls of the classroom and into the community in which they live, and I believe the Ouachita Parish School District is stimulating such progress in North Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the efforts of the Ouachita Parish School District and its commitment to improving education and the quality of life in Ouachita Parish and throughout the State. ____________________