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"The quality of our public schools directly affects us all as parents, as students, and as citizens.
"
President Bush
(Pictured: President
Bush greets a student in Columbus,
Ohio.)
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Transforming
the Federal Role in Education So That No Child is Left Behind
En Español
"If our country fails in its responsibility to educate every child,
we're likely to fail in many other areas. But if we succeed in educating
our youth, many other successes will follow throughout our country and
in the lives of our citizens."
President George W. Bush
No
Child Left Behind: Education Blueprint
Strengthen
and Reform Education (Budget)
Education
Blueprint Summary
As America
enters the 21st Century full of hope and promise, too many of our
neediest students are being left behind. Today, nearly 70 percent
of inner city fourth graders are unable to read at a basic level
on national reading tests. Our high school seniors trail students
in Cyprus and South Africa on international math tests. And nearly
a third of our college freshmen find they must take a remedial course
before they are able to even begin regular college level courses.
Although education is primarily a state and local responsibility,
the federal government is partly at fault for tolerating these abysmal
results. The federal government currently does not do enough to
reward success and sanction failure in our education system.
Since
1965, when the federal government embarked on its first major elementary-secondary
education initiative, federal policy has strongly influenced America's
schools. Over the years Congress has created hundreds of programs
intended to address problems in education without asking whether
or not the programs produce results or knowing their impact on local
needs. This "program for every problem" solution has begun
to add up -- so much so that there are hundreds of education programs
spread across 39 federal agencies at a cost of $120 billion a year.
Yet, after spending billions of dollars on education, we have fallen
short in meeting our goals for educational excellence. The academic
achievement gap between rich and poor, Anglo and minority is not
only wide, but in some cases is growing wider still. In reaction
to these disappointing results, some have decided that there should
be no federal involvement in education.
Others
suggest we merely add new programs into the old system. Surely,
there must be another way – a way that points to a more effective
federal role. The priorities outlined in
"No
Child Left Behind" are based on the fundamental notion that
an enterprise works best when responsibility is placed closest to
the most important activity of the enterprise, when those responsible
are given greatest latitude and support, and when those responsible
are held accountable for producing results. This education
blueprint will:
Increase
Accountability for Student Performance
States, districts and schools that improve achievement will
be rewarded. Failure will be sanctioned. Parents will know how well
their child is learning, and that schools are held accountable for
their effectiveness with annual state reading and math assessments
in grades 3-8.
Reduce
Bureaucracy and Increase Flexibility
Additional flexibility will be provided to states and school
districts, and flexible funding will be increased at the local level.
Focus
on What Works
Federal dollars will be spent on effective, research-based programs
and practices. Funds will be targeted to improve schools and enhance
teacher quality.
Empower
Parents
Parents will have more information about the quality of their
child’s school. Students in persistently low-performing schools
will be given choice.
Though
these priorities do not address reforms in every federal education
program, they do address a general vision for reforming the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and linking federal dollars to
specific performance goals to ensure improved results.
Our priorities in this
blueprint consist of seven performance-based titles:
I.
Improving the academic performance of disadvantaged students
II. Boosting teacher quality
III. Moving limited English proficient students to English fluency
IV. Promoting informed parental choice and innovative programs
V. Encouraging safe schools for the 21st Century
VI. Increasing funding for Impact Aid
VII. Encouraging freedom and accountability
There
will be additional funds targeted to needy schools and districts.
States and school districts will have the flexibility to produce
results, and may lose funds if performance goals are not met.
In
America, no child should be left behind. Every child should be educated
to his or her full potential. This proposal sets forth the President’s
proposed framework to accomplish that goal. This Administration
will work with Congress to ensure that this happens quickly, and
in a bipartisan manner.
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