Leave No Child Behind - A Commitment to Education Excellence

LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND - A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION EXCELLENCE

Two years ago this month, we made a commitment to the nation's future when the No Child Left Behind Act passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. The bill has raised standards for students, empowered parents, and put the focus on academic achievement.

The No Child Left Behind Act requires states to have a highly qualified schoolteacher in every public classroom, even if it means some teachers may be required to obtain additional training. It allows parents with children in underachieving schools to transfer them to a better public or charter school; requires school districts to give parents annual report cards on the academic performance of schools; requires schools to set and meet goals each year to show that children are making academic progress; and targets federal education dollars to the poorest schools and districts.

President Bush explained the promise of the No Child Left Behind Act best in his State of the Union address, when he said, "We are regularly testing every child on the fundamentals. We are reporting results to parents, and making sure they have better options when schools are not performing. We are making progress toward excellence for every child. This nation will not go back to the days of simply shuffling children along from grade to grade without them learning the basics. I refuse to give up on any child - and the No Child Left Behind Act is opening the door of opportunity to America's children."

After two years under the No Child Left Behind Act we have made significant strides toward improving our public education system. All 50 states now have approved accountability plans in place for improving public schools and increasing student achievement. We are investing more money in elementary and secondary education than at any time in American history. All 50 states have received grants totaling $1.8 billion to improve reading instruction and ensure that all students are reading at the proper level by the third grade.

Congress and President Bush have demonstrated that education is truly a national priority by funding it properly. The $56 billion in total discretionary spending for federal education is a record high. Overall funding for the Department of Education has increased by $13.8 billion (36%) since 2001. Title I spending, for example, which provides aid to disadvantaged and needy students, has been increased more in the first three years of the Bush administration than the previous eight years.

The No Child Left Behind Act has made significant new resources available to states and local school districts, but some states and school districts have not been able to take full advantage of these resources. According to the Department of Education, as of December 11, 2003, a total of nearly $6 billion in federal education funds still remain available to state or local education officials and agencies. The total includes nearly $2 billion in No Child Left Behind Title I funds intended to benefit disadvantaged children across America.

Our children are the future. As legislators, educators and parents we must not fail to provide them with an education that prepares them for a lifetime of achievements or we will fail our country. Congress and the President have funded education at record levels and where The No Child Left Behind Act has been implemented it has become an effective tool for parents and students alike. If a school fails its students, their parents need to know and must have other options to ensure their educations. These accomplishments can allow all Americans to be hopeful and optimistic about the nation's future.