This letter to the editor by Under Secretary Eugene W. Hickok appeared in The Pennsylvania County Press on April 15, 2003.
As a former Secretary of Education in Pennsylvania who now has a leading role in helping states implement No Child Left Behind, I was dismayed to read in your paper that residents of Haverford are being told No Child Left Behind is "the most anti-public school legislation that's ever been passed."
In fact, given the unprecedented flexibility and the historic funding increases in the law, it would be much more accurate to describe No Child Left Behind as the most favorable public school legislation that's ever been passed, especially as it relates to leaders on the local level. That is why the law continues to enjoy the broad bipartisan support of national, state and local leaders all across the political spectrum.
Local officials are seeing dramatic increases in federal funding and long-called-for flexibility in how those funds can be used. And contrary to the answer provided at the community meeting, charter schools are indeed covered by No Child Left Behind.
Countless legislators, education leaders, superintendents, teachers, and parents stand behind this law and are working hard to make all of our schools places of high expectations and high achievement. Nine states have already had their implementation plans approved and the rest should be completed by mid-summer.
Despite all the priorities competing for our tax dollars, President Bush's budget boosts federal education funding to $53.1 billion—and that money provides the state with unprecedented flexibility to target it where it's needed most. Pennsylvania alone will receive more than $1.8 billion, including $729 million to implement No Child Left Behind. If the President's budget is approved, federal education funding for Pennsylvania will have gone up $345 million since President Bush took office. Never in the history of our country has the federal government invested so much on our nation's school children.
Pennsylvania is a state that has a strong foundation for improving student achievement as a result of past and current efforts. By implementing the No Child Left Behind law and taking advantage of the benefits it provides, the state has the chance to make more progress than ever before in the goal of educating every child. If your readers are interested in learning more, they can visit the No Child Left Behind Web site at www.nclb.gov.
Sincerely,
Eugene W. Hickok
U.S. Under Secretary of Education
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