ORLANDO, Fla. -- U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige joined Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to celebrate the importance of reading during a No Child Left Behind Tour Across America stop here today. Paige and Bush participated in the "Phone Line Story Time" at the Orange County Public Library -- a new program under the "Just Read, Florida!" initiative.

"Reading is the foundation of all learning. Our children must learn to read well if they're to excel in life and achieve their dreams," Paige said. "The 'Just Read, Florida!' initiative is helping to ensure a brighter future for all the children in Florida."

Florida was one of the first three states to receive major new grants to help schools and school districts improve student reading achievement under Reading First, President Bush's reading reform initiative built on scientifically based research. Florida will receive $45.6 million this year, and $300 million over six years, subject to the state's successful implementation and congressional appropriations.

The grant to Florida will support significant improvements in classroom reading instruction based on proven methods, screening and diagnosis of reading difficulties, monitoring of student progress and thorough and high-quality professional development for teachers. The state will build a statewide infrastructure to guide reform and assist school districts that are funded under a state-run competition for subgrants.

Reading First was passed into law by a bipartisan majority of Congress under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and centers on the following priorities:

• raising the caliber and quality of classroom instruction;

• basing instruction on scientific research proven to work in the teaching of reading;

• providing professional training for educators in reading instruction; and

• supplying substantial resources to support the unprecedented initiative.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 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. Parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will 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 will be 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. Yesterday, Paige visited Louisville, Ky., as part of his tour. Earlier today, he joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority to enlist its members' support in his efforts to leave no child behind. He will be in Colorado later this week.

For more information about the new law, including Reading First, please visit www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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