This op-ed by Secretary Rod Paige appeared in various newspapers during May 2004.

Just a few years ago, most people in United States didn't attach much significance to the Cinco de Mayo. But this Mexican holiday is fast becoming as American as apple pie, or at least as popular as St. Patrick's Day. That said, I ask you to please allow me to mark this special occasion with a frank discussion about a topic that is dear to my heart and of great importance to the future of our great country—closing the education achievement gap that exists between minority children and their peers.

As you may know, America has a new federal law—the No Child Left Behind Act—that promises, over the course of 12 years, to not only close this gap, but also to bring all children's academic success up to an acceptable level. President Bush signed this law two years ago, and it is being implemented across the country by all the states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, all of which submitted their own accountability plans designed specifically to meet their local needs.

On this Cinco de Mayo holiday, it is appropriate to highlight the importance of education because Hispanic and other minority children have a lot to gain from the historic and revolutionary changes under No Child Left Behind. With high dropout rates and low test scores, many Hispanic children are not reaching their potential. Just as the greatly outnumbered and brave Mexican forces defeated the well-armed French cavalry in 1862 in the Battle of Puebla, our country must meet head-on the great challenges it faces when it comes to the education of our children. That's why President Bush pushed through his education reforms in the No Child Left Behind Act, which ensures that all children receive a quality education and are taught by highly qualified teachers so they can reach their greatest academic potential, be prepared for college upon graduation, if that is their choice, and ultimately attain the American dream.

Never in the history of our country has the federal government invested so much money in the education of our children—a record $57 billion was proposed by President Bush for the 2005 education budget. But money alone is not the answer. President Bush and Congress saw the immediate necessity of bringing change to a public school system that previously provided billions of dollars for our children's education but demanded very little in return.

Of all of our students, English language learners, face some of the greatest challenges. Eighty percent of these children are native Spanish speakers. No Child Left Behind now provides these children and their families with new benefits. The law requires that these students be tested annually to assess their progress in English language acquisition, and their performance on academic tests will also be followed closely. Also, parents now have the right to know if their child has been recommended for placement in a language instruction program for English language learners, and to choose a different program if the one their child is placed in is not acceptable. Schools must provide parents with information about their child's progress in a language they understand and involve parents in the education of their children. Under the new law, extra educational help, such as tutoring, is also available for many students. Also, federal funds for English language learners have increased to $680 million for 2005 and are now distributed to all states by population, rather than to just a few programs through a grant distribution process.

The success of minority children in the U.S. public school system is not only vital to Hispanics; it is vital to all Americans. The United States cannot afford to leave any group of children behind because the future of all of our children is the future of our great country. On this Cinco de Mayo, we have much to celebrate, including a victory for our children's future with No Child Left Behind. In fact, recent studies show that the law is already working to help Latino and other minority students. A coalition of inner-city schools recently announced that students in the 60 largest urban public school systems have improved in reading and math in the first year under No Child Left Behind. The law has now begun a process of reform that is making our education system more inclusive, fair and just.

On this Cinco de Mayo and beyond, let's encourage our children to continue with their education and foster a positive attitude toward educational endeavors and goals. Education is indeed a civil right, as President Bush says. And this year, when you remember the Battle of Puebla, which to many signifies the overcoming of great odds, we can also remember that great challenges can be overcome with courage, commitment and perseverance. Happy Cinco de Mayo y que Dios los bendiga.

Rod Paige
U.S. Secretary of Education