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FOR RELEASE: May 9, 2001 |
CONTACT: Lindsey Kozberg (202) 401-3026 |
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Last Modified: 08/23/2003
PRESS RELEASES
STATEMENT BY U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ROD PAIGE REGARDING H.R. 1
I congratulate the House Education and Workforce Committee, Chairman John Boehner, and Ranking Member George Miller on reporting H.R. 1 out of committee. Their strong bipartisan support for H.R. 1 will help us change our system of education to enhance accountability and focus on improving student performance. H.R. 1 reflects each of the four pillars of President Bush's education reform plan -accountability, flexibility and local control, research-based reform and expanded parental options.
The bill creates accountability systems based on high standards for all students and testing of every child in grades 3-8 against those standards every year. The bill also makes federal programs more flexible - giving states and school districts greater local control in exchange for accountability for improved student performance. In addition, the bill expands parental options for families with children trapped in persistently failing schools by supporting meaningful public school choice and, for the first time, allowing federal funds to be used for supplemental services such as tutoring. We look forward to continued debate on these issues when it is considered by the full House, including further expansion of private school choice for low income families with children trapped in failing schools.
I thank the members of the committee for their leadership on behalf of our children. With their support for education reform, we can make sure that no child in this country is left behind.
