For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 27, 2001

Radio Address by the President to the Nation

     Listen to the President's Remarks

10:06 A.M. EST

Radio Address 2004 2003 2002 2001

Radio Interviews 2004

          THE PRESIDENT:  A week ago today I received a great honor, and all the great responsibilities that come with it.  The first order of business is education reform, and we have started strong.

          On Tuesday, I sent to Congress a package of reforms to turn last year's pledges into this year's laws.  I want to make all of our public schools places of learning and high standards and achievement.  Our country must offer every child, no matter what his or her background or accent, a fair start in life with a quality education.

          I also met this week with congressional leaders in both parties, and we found a lot of agreement on the basic goals of reform.  No one is content with the status quo.  Most are open to new ideas.  Everyone agrees at least that the problems are serious and action is urgently needed.

          This city has heard so much talk over the years about education reform.  So many different approaches have been tried.  So many new programs have been created.  But we need more than a few new programs.  We need a new way of thinking.  We must go back to the fundamentals of early reading and regular testing, local control, and accountability for results, clear incentives for excellence, and clear consequences for failure.

          These are the elements of the plan I am proposing.  Real reform starts by giving schools and school districts more authority and flexibility.  We cannot expect schools to change unless they have the freedom to change.  My plan respects the principle of local control.  It does not try to run the schools from a central office in Washington.  I view principals, teachers and parents as allies in reform.  They are ready to raise the standards, ready to take responsibility and answer for results.

          Those results must be measured by testing every child every year, in tests developed and administered by states and local districts, not the federal government.  Without yearly testing, we do not know who is falling behind and who needs our help.  Without yearly testing, too often we don't find failure until it is too late.  Testing allows us to help children early, before frustration turns into apathy.

          We need to aim high, but we also need to be realistic.  Many schools, particularly those in poor neighborhoods, will need help to meet high standards.  And they will have it, including a new $5 billion initiative over five years for reading instruction.  The goal is to improve our public schools.  We want them to succeed, and when they're willing to change, we'll give them the tools to do so.

          At the same time, we will not continue to pour taxpayers' money into schools that do not teach and will not change.  My plan will give every failing school a fair chance to improve, but there will be a deadline, a moment of truth when parents are given better options and their children are given a way out.

          There are some honest differences of opinion in Congress about what form these options should take.  I have my own plan which would help children in persistently failing schools to go to another public, private or charter school.  Others suggest different approaches, and I am willing to listen.  But all reform must be based on a principle:  Children and parents, who have had only bad choices need better choices.  And it is my duty as President to help them.

          In sending my plan to Congress, I ask that we act before this summer, when schools begin planning for the next school year.  I hope to have the support of Republicans and Democrats alike, and I hope to have your support, as well.

          Thank you for listening.

                              END        10:11 A.M. EST

Printer-Friendly Version

Email this page to a friend

  |   Issues Budget Management Education Energy Health Care Homeland Security Hurricane Recovery Immigration Jobs & Economy Medicare National Security Pandemic Flu Patriot Act Renewal in Iraq Social Security More Issues »   |     |   News Current News Press Briefings Proclamations Executive Orders Radio RSS Feeds      |   News by Date   |   June 2006   |   May 2006   |   April 2006   |   March 2006   |   February 2006   |   January 2006   |   December 2005   |   November 2005   |   October 2005   |   September 2005   |   August 2005   |   July 2005   |   June 2005   |   May 2005   |   April 2005   |   March 2005   |   February 2005   |   January 2005   |   December 2004   |   November 2004   |   October 2004   |   September 2004   |   August 2004   |   July 2004   |   June 2004   |   May 2004   |   April 2004   |   March 2004   |   February 2004   |   January 2004   |   December 2003   |   November 2003   |   October 2003   |   September 2003   |   August 2003   |   July 2003   |   June 2003   |   May 2003   |   April 2003   |   March 2003   |   February 2003   |   January 2003   |   December 2002   |   November 2002   |   October 2002   |   September 2002   |   August 2002   |   July 2002   |   June 2002   |   May 2002   |   April 2002   |   March 2002   |   February 2002   |   January 2002   |   December 2001   |   November 2001   |   October 2001   |   September 2001   |   August 2001   |   July 2001   |   June 2001   |   May 2001   |   April 2001   |   March 2001   |   February 2001   |   January 2001
Interact Ask the White House White House Interactive   |   Appointments Nominations Application