I see so many friends, I wish I could mention you all by name, but that won't be possible. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't mention New York City Schools Chancellor Harold Levy; Gussie Kappner, one of my former assistant secretaries who's now president of Bank Street College; and my friend Bill Ivey, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. The U. S. Department of Education has formed an arts-education partnership with the NEA that recognizes that the arts should be a part of every American's education and life.

I also want to recognize some very special Partnership people. These include Sue Ferguson, who has been with us from day one; Maryland Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, representing the first state to sign on to the Partnership; Peter Cookson from Columbia Teachers College, which hosted the first meeting of the Partnership in 1996; Jan Brown of USA Today, which hosts the Partnership's Web site; Susan Otterbourg of the Conference Board, the co-sponsor of our business-education partnership meetings; and Hazel Loucks, Illinois deputy governor for education, who's leading the effort to encourage family partnerships throughout her state.

Welcome, one and all! Today, we celebrate the growth of the Partnership from 34 members in 1994 to over 6,000 organizations today. That's about a 750 percent growth rate-a much higher growth rate than even the stock market had over that time.

The Riley family has grown by leaps and bounds, too. We recently welcomed our 11th grandchild into the world, and I just happen to have a picture of him.

I was disappointed when this meeting was moved from the Museum of Modern Art. This picture is so beautiful, I'm sure the Museum would have wanted to show it for years to come.

Today is a good time to ask ourselves an important question: Why did our Partnership grow? I think it all has to do with connecting. I think people today have a real desire to connect with one another in a world that leaves so many isolated. The members of this Partnership believe in pulling together-not pulling apart-and I think that's a message that people have really responded to.

Partnerships are the spark that makes things happen in education. That is why I believe that the creation and stunning growth of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education is one of the most important developments in education in recent years.

Your work is being felt in hundreds of communities across the nation. To document the influence of the Partnership, we are releasing today this book, The Partnership for Family Involvement in Education: Who We Are and What We Do.

It is filled with descriptions of the good work of Partnership members. You've made a big difference. And you have helped to achieve the progress that we have seen in education-and don't let anyone tell you that we haven't made progress.

Reading and math scores are on the rise, not only among all students on average, but among students in our highest-poverty schools. More Americans than ever are going to college. Over 65 percent of America's classrooms are connected to the Internet. And the overall rate of crime against students ages 12 to 18 in school fell by one-third between 1993 and 1997. We still have a long way to go, of course, but we have come a long way, too.

Members of the partnership have been involved in all of these areas-technology, school safety, student achievement and expanding access to college-and in so many other areas. At the U. S. Department of Education, we are deeply grateful that you have worked with us on so many joint initiatives.

We have worked together on America Goes Back to School, which has generated so much community and family support for education all across the country. The America Reads Challenge has enlisted the aid of 1,400 colleges in the effort to help our children learn to read. Our READ*WRITE*NOW! program has helped children to keep reading over the summer. Our Think College Early initiative is helping students and families to prepare academically and financially for college. And we have encouraged businesses from coast to coast to adopt family-friendly policies.

In addition, Partnership members-particularly those from the faith community-first raised the cry for more quality after-school programs. President Clinton and I heard you, and after-school programs became a key part of our education agenda. Not too long ago, there was no federal support for after-school programs-not a dollar. Then the president got behind the after-school effort in a big way. Now, in the current federal budget, there is $453 million for after-school and summer programs. And the president has called for $1 billion in his new budget.

These after-school programs are conducted by local partnerships of schools, colleges, churches and synagogues, parent groups, arts groups, business people, community groups, YMCAs, and so on.

We have also put together the same kind of partnerships for our GEAR UP initiative, which provides mentors for hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged middle and high school students.

But the majority in Congress now intends to slash funding for after-school, GEAR UP, and other important initiatives. It is even turning its back on the president's school construction proposal, which would meet the need to repair or replace many run-down schools across the country, and which would help many schools to deal with overcrowded classrooms. The Congress is also trying to derail our efforts to reduce class size and help schools hire 100,000 good new teachers.

All this doesn't make sense to me. The economy is in good condition, we've got a budget surplus, and the American people know that wise investments in education will give our country a bigger payoff than massive tax cuts would. If we don't make important investments in learning now, when will we make them? I hope that you will help us fight these unwise cuts. Now I would like to offer a proposal for your consideration and discussion today. It is a proposal to enhance the most important education partnership of all-the partnership between the school and the home.

The Sacramento City Unified School District, together with an interfaith partnership called Area Congregations Together, have launched a promising program that pays teachers who serve low-income neighborhoods to make house calls. In the home, the teachers work with students and show parents how they can help their children with their studies.

These home visits break down the barriers that often exist between educators and parents. Parents often feel out of place or even ignored at school, but home visits give them the chance to develop good relationships with teachers.

This initiative is new, but the first evaluations show that it is improving learning. Participating students are reading better and show higher overall achievement, and their attendance rates and attitudes about their school have improved.

Participating parents and family members feel more respected because the school system is reaching out to them. And teachers say that they have gained a greater understanding of their students' lives and needs.

This initiative has proved so promising that the state of California has allocated $15 million to help school districts pay teachers for home visits. Today, I am calling on all communities across the nation to give serious consideration to adopting the Sacramento plan.

I see at least two potential sources of funding. Recently, I asked school districts to make teaching a year-round profession and pay teachers accordingly. This extra time could be used for home visits, as well as professional development.

Talking about teachers and students reminds me of a delightful book I saw recently called Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul. It includes words of wisdom written by students in their classrooms. Here are a few examples:

A young lady, age 13, said, "Never ask your dad to help you with a math problem-it will turn out to be a three-hour lesson." An eight-year-old recommended, "When parents are talking, don't interrupt, unless someone is bleeding or something." A fourth-grader warned, "Never throw overhand when playing egg toss." And a 12-year-old boy said, "Attitudes are contagious."

This Partnership proves that young man is right. Your positive attitudes about schools, families and communities have set a shining example for others. With your leadership, I know that the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education will continue to be "contagious," and that our spirit and work will usher in a bright new era of education in every community in America.

Thank you all very much.

[ Return to Speeches and Testimony page ]