Harrisburg, Pa.--U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today joined U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), local educators, and state and local leaders to announce the approval of Pennsylvania's accountability plan aligned with the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. Paige and Specter made the announcement at Marshall Elementary School in the Harrisburg City School District.

Paige also announced that he approved Vermont's accountability plan. Reading First Director Chris Doherty delivered Vermont's news during an event in Burlington.

"In January, we celebrated a major victory for accountability when every state -- for the first time in the history of the American public school system -- submitted plans on time outlining how they will ensure that all their schools are places of high expectations and high standards," Paige said. "Today I am pleased to announce another important achievement: Pennsylvania and Vermont are the latest two states to win approval.

"I applaud Secretary Vicki Phillips here in Pennsylvania, Interim Commissioner David Larsen from Vermont and their teams who worked so hard in partnership with us to get this done. This is proof that they are committed to high standards and high expectations. It's a huge achievement. And I congratulate you and thank you for all your hard work, so every child in America is educated and no child is left behind."

Under NCLB's strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including disadvantaged students, achieve academic proficiency. In addition, they must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make progress must provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance, take corrective actions and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, must make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.

All told, 30 plans have been approved, including the two announced today. The others are: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

No Child Left Behind is the landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options and using teaching methods proven to work.

Foremost among the four key principles is an insistence on stronger accountability for results. To achieve that, states must develop strong accountability systems or improve those already in place, establish high standards and hold all children to the same standards. They also must provide instruction by highly qualified teachers, which results in steady progress. All students must be proficient by the 2013-14 school year.

All states submitted draft accountability plans to the U.S. Department of Education by the Jan. 31 deadline. Following an initial review and technical assistance, if needed, the next step was on-site peer review of each state's proposed accountability plan. Teams of three peer reviewers -- independent, nonfederal education policy, reform or statistical experts -- conducted each peer review. Following a review of the team's consensus report, the Department provided feedback to the state and worked to resolve any outstanding issues. Ultimately, Paige approved the state plans, as he did for Pennsylvania and Vermont.

Despite all the priorities competing for our tax dollars, President Bush's budget boosts federal education funding to $53.1 billion -- an $11 billion increase since the president took office. Pennsylvania will receive more than $1.8 billion, including more than $729 million to implement NCLB. If the president's budget is approved, federal education funding for Pennsylvania will have gone up $345 million since he took office.

Vermont will receive more than $135 million, including more than $60 million to implement NCLB. If the president's budget is approved, federal education funding for Vermont will have gone up $26.9 million since he took office.

The plans will be posted online in the coming days at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/CFP/csas/index.html.

For more information about the No Child Left Behind Act, go to www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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