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SAN ANTONIO -- The U.S. Department of Education is teaming up with faith-based leaders to put important information about the new federal education law No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in the hands of Hispanic, Asian and other parents of English language learners. The kick-off event took place today at the Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, and featured the department's Declaration of Rights for Parents of English Language Learners Under No Child Left Behind -- an information sheet in English and Spanish that includes the 10 most important benefits under NCLB for students learning English, as well as an interactive easy-to-use Web site.

Secretary of Education Rod Paige launched the initiative with Grammy Award-winning singer Jon Secada, who has been working with the department to help raise awareness among Hispanics of the importance of education. Also joining in the event was the department's Deputy Under Secretary Maria Hernandez Ferrier, who announced the initiative before hundreds of parents and community leaders. Members of the department's faith-based task force gathered in San Antonio for the event with their Chairman Albert Reyes, president of the Baptist University of the Americas. Also attending the event were several school superintendents, principals and teachers.

"If we want to close the education achievement gap, we must help empower parents," said Secretary Paige. "Through this outreach effort, we are crossing language and cultural barriers so that all children in our great nation -- including those who are learning English -- receive the quality education they deserve. We know that Hispanics and other minority groups rely on their places of worship to receive information and guidance, and that is why our partnership with these organizations is vital to ensuring that parents know what No Child Left Behind means for their children."

"We must truly celebrate the new opportunities that No Child Left Behind offers our Hispanic and other minority children," said Hernandez Ferrier, who heads the department's Office of English Language Acquisition. "We are grateful to all school leaders and teachers across the country like those at this event who are working hard to implement the historic and revolutionary changes under this law. Together, we will all ensure the bright future of all of our children and of our great country."

Earlier in the day, department officials toured two San Antonio schools -- Fox Tech High School in the San Antonio Independent School District and the Colonial Hills Elementary School in the North East Independent School District. They also met with superintendents, teachers and other school officials and will provide training for principals on NCLB.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, parents of English language learners can expect:

1. To have their child receive a quality education and be taught by a highly qualified teacher.
2. To have their child learn English and other subjects such as reading and other language arts and mathematics at the same academic level as all other students.
3. To know if their child has been identified and recommended for placement in an English language acquisition program, and to accept or refuse such placement.
4. To choose a different English language acquisition program for their child, if one is available.
5. To transfer their child to another school if his or her school is identified as "in need of improvement."
6. To apply for supplemental services, such as tutoring, for their child if his or her school is identified as "in need of improvement" for two years.
7. To have their child tested annually to assess his or her progress in English language acquisition.
8. To receive information regarding their child's performance on academic tests.
9. To have their child taught with programs that are scientifically proven to work.
10. To have the opportunity for their child to reach his or her greatest academic potential.

Approximately 80 percent of the 5.5 million English language learners speak Spanish as their primary language. Nineteen states have reported an increase of between 50 and 200 percent of these students in the last three years. To meet the needs of English language learners, proposed annual funding for Title III for 2005 has increased to $680 million. Also, President Bush's 2005 budget request would provide $13.3 billion for Title I grants to help local school districts improve low-performing schools and teacher quality and expand choices for students and parents. If passed, the budget would represent an overall increase of $4.6 billion -- or 52 percent -- in Title I funding since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Before No Child Left Behind, Title III funds for the instruction of English language learners were distributed through a competitive grant distribution process. Now, funding distribution is based on populations to ensure that money is distributed to every state for all English language learners in the country.

The Declaration of Rights Web site is located at www.ed.gov/rights (Flash Player 7 required) and in Spanish at www.ed.gov/derechos (Flash Player 7 required). To receive a copy of the Declaration, call 1-877-433-7827 or send an e-mail to edpubs@inet.ed.gov. Para español, llame al 1-877-433-7827.

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