More Resources Highlights of Paige's  25-City Tour Paige Addressing Faculty  and Students (Photo)

Bronx, New York -- U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Cablevision President and CEO James L. Dolan, Allan Houston of the New York Knicks and Teresa Weatherspoon of the WNBA's New York Liberty at Samuel Gompers Vocational and Technical High School to highlight the importance of partnerships between the business community and public schools and to discuss how No Child Left Behind and technology will transform education in America.

During his visit to the Samuel Gompers school, the secretary viewed an interactive classroom demonstration that featured Cablevision's Power to Learn technology and online learning resource, www.powertolearn.com, that is used to support teachers in the classroom and connect classrooms to parents and the community.

Paige said the school is an excellent example of the power of public-private partnerships in education -- this one between Cablevision and the schools of New York City. Cablevision aims to wire the 5,000 schools and libraries within its service territory with broadband Internet access, and to provide teacher training and online educational content.

"Technology is connecting parents to teachers," Paige said. "And, it is helping connect parents to assessments so we can measure the progress of every student.

"Partnerships among schools, businesses, parents and entire communities are equally important if we're to make sure no child is left behind."

James L. Dolan, Cablevision president and CEO said: "We applaud Secretary Paige for selecting a Power to Learn school as the last stop on this important national tour. Gompers Vocational and Technical High School is one of 1,300 schools and libraries Cablevision has wired for high-speed Internet access through Power to Learn, a groundbreaking program that puts powerful technology in a powerful place -- into the hands of parents, teachers and -- most importantly -- students."

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, more than $700 million is available to states and schools in 2002 through the Enhancing Education through Technology program, along with $2.25 billion through the E-rate initiative. In addition, under the flexibility provisions of the law, states and schools can use more of their federal funds to make better use of technology.

Under the law, which President Bush signed in January, states and school districts will develop strong systems of accountability based upon student performance. The new law also gives states and school districts increased local control and flexibility, removing federal red tape and bureaucracy and putting decision making in the hands of those at the local and state levels.

With the start of this new school year, parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds have options under the new law to participate in public school choice programs or obtain supplemental services such as tutoring. And, teachers around the country are encouraged to use teaching methods based upon scientific research that show they have been proven to work.

Paige kicked off his tour in Albuquerque, N.M., in April 2002 to educate parents, educators, community and business leaders and other stakeholders about the most sweeping change in education policy in three decades -- and to ask for their help in strengthening our schools and leaving no child behind.

For more information about the new law and Secretary Paige's tour, visit www.ed.gov/nclb.

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