More Resources President's Remarks Checklist for Parents Checklist for Businesses Photos

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today visited Tuskegee University with President Bush where they met with students and viewed demonstrations on nanotechnology research. The President delivered remarks on the American Competitiveness Initiative, which proposes to strengthen innovation and education in the U.S. in part by improving mathematics, science and foreign language studies and encouraging more rigorous coursework in high schools to prepare students to succeed.

In conjunction with today's event, Secretary Spellings released a parent checklist outlining key things parents can do to help ensure their children are prepared for higher education, as well as the competitive workforce of today's global economy. The parent checklist provides useful questions for parents to ask their schools and districts to ensure their child is taking rigorous courses to prepare for their future.

"As parents, we must be involved in our child's education and work to provide them with the necessary skills to meet the challenges of our changing world," said Secretary Spellings. "We live in a world where technological innovation and global competition are increasing like never before and in order to remain competitive in the 21st century global economy, it is essential for parents, businesses and community organizations to get involved and help our nation's children succeed."

The parent checklist encourages parents to engage in their child's education and future, including reminding them of the importance of math and science and taking four years of each in high school, even if it is not required; encouraging your child's school to offer critical languages and for your child to take those courses; encourage your child to take AP courses and for schools to offer them; and making sure districts and schools have a plan in place to help teachers become highly qualified if they are not already. In addition, the parent checklist encourages parents to review the school's report card and know if their child's school is not performing well. If that is the case, parents need to get involved and help their child's school improve, as well as look at options to transfer their child to another public school or receive free tutoring.

Secretary Spellings previously released a checklist outlining what businesses, community groups and foundations can do to make sure America's schoolchildren are prepared for the 21st century.

The parent checklist is now available at http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/prepared.html. The business, community groups and foundations checklist is available at http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/business.html.

For more information on education components of the American Competitiveness Initiative and to find "Meeting the Challenge of a Changing World: Strengthening Education for the 21st Century," visit http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/index.html.

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