This letter to the editor by Tori Hatada, the Deputy Secretary's Regional Representative in Region IX, appeared in the San Bernardino County (CA) Sun on March 18, 2007.

In his March 5 Point of View, "Bush budget balanced on students' backs," Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, is correct when he says the president's budget "targets students" - it targets funding toward students' most pressing needs.

The president's budget provides $12.3 billion in overall K-12 and higher-education funding for California - up 56 percent since 2001. This includes $2.9 billion for No Child Left Behind, reaffirming our commitment to a quality education for every child, regardless of race, income or ZIP code. It will help us build on the significant progress we've made in California and elsewhere in closing the "achievement gap."

The president's budget helps the state's neediest students, with $1.8 billion for California's Title I schools, a $581.8 million increase since 2001. He's also proposed the largest increase to the Pell grant program in more than 30 years to help more low-income students realize the dream of a college education.

Offering a lifeboat to students in chronically underperforming schools, new Promise scholarships and Opportunity scholarships would provide a choice of intensive tutoring or the opportunity to attend a better public, private or charter school.

This budget also strengthens early education, investing $135.7 million in the Reading First and Early Reading First programs for California. These are the most successful and focused early-reading programs in American history.

Finally, the budget also addresses America's need to compete for jobs globally. It dramatically increases funding for high schools and strengthens math, science and foreign-language instruction, with $365 million nationwide for the president's American Competitiveness Initiative.

The president's budget targets funding toward real academic progress for all of California's students - especially those most in need. I believe we can all agree this is a national priority.

Tori Hatada
Deputy Secretary's Regional Representative
Region IX
U.S. Department of Education