Thank you. It's an honor to be here today. Before I begin, let me say all of our thoughts and prayers are with Pope John Paul II right now. Through all the challenges he's faced, his mind and spirit have remained strong, and I wish him a speedy recovery.

I want to thank the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for inviting me to speak today. Let me congratulate you on the 20th anniversary of your Congressional Advocacy Days Conference.

It's a pleasure to be here with Sister Glenn Anne McPhee, who is the USCCB's secretary of education. That's a nice title you have. And I want to thank you for attending my swearing-in last month.

I'm happy to see Bishop Robert J. McManus and Father Bill Davis here today. Thanks for all your good work on behalf of our children.

I also want to thank Jack Klenk for helping to set up today's meeting. Jack's the director of our office of non-public education. His office serves as the Department of Education's liaison to the private school community. I'd also like to recognize Nina Rees' work on the D.C. Choice program. Nina is the assistant deputy secretary for innovation and improvement. She couldn't be here with us today, but it's for a happy reason. She gave birth to a little girl two weeks ago.

As Secretary of Education, I recognize the long contribution Catholic schools have made to educating students across this country. Since the days of the early Spanish settlement in St. Augustine, Florida, Catholic schools have been a part of the American landscape.

Charles Carroll of Maryland received a Jesuit education in his home state before signing his name to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Thirteen years later, his brother, John Carroll, realized his dream of an American Catholic college with the founding of Georgetown right here in Washington, D.C. In short, Catholic schools are a part of the story of our founding and have helped shape the nation we have become.

As you may know, my oldest daughter attends a Catholic high school. I chose this path for her because I admired the long history of excellence in Catholic schools. And most importantly, I found a school that was the right fit for Mary. For my younger daughter, I chose a public middle school. It was the right fit for her. In both cases, I made decisions to best serve the individual needs of my daughters. School choice is more than just a catch phrase in my family; it is a way of life.

The president and I want more Americans—regardless of their economic circumstances—to have these same choices, especially when public schools fall short of their responsibilities. That's why we're so proud of the Washington, D.C. School Choice program.

The program provides low-income students with grants of up to $7,500 to attend the private or parochial school of their choice. In just its first year, over 1,000 students have already taken advantage of the program and reclaimed control over their educational destinies.

You should be proud that over 600 of those students chose to enroll in Catholic schools. That means over half of the students who opted for scholarships chose Catholic schools.

At a recent meeting for D.C. Choice, I met parents who told me how attending Catholic schools has changed their children's lives. I also spoke with three principals of Catholic schools participating in the program. They all gave me the same message. They want to help more students by expanding the number of scholarship students they accept in the future. That's great news. And I want to thank you for helping us make D.C. Choice a reality.

It should come as no surprise that when given a choice, so many D.C. families have chosen Catholic schools. Across the country, the parents of over 2.4 million students have made the same decision. Almost half of all private school students attend Catholic school. And it's no secret why. Just look at the numbers:

• Over 99 percent of Catholic school students will graduate from high school.
• And 80 percent of graduates go on to attend a four-year institution of higher learning. That's an important statistic when you consider that 80 percent of the fastest growing jobs in the 21st century will require at least some postsecondary education.
• Last year, 28 Catholic schools received the U.S. Department of Education's prestigious Blue Ribbon School award. That's a real honor. Only America's finest schools receive this award.

These distinctions are a credit to the dedication of Catholic schoolteachers and administrators across the country. The president and I want more students to have the opportunity to benefit from this excellence.

That's why the president's new budget includes $50 million for a new Choice Incentive Fund, which would help states and districts develop school choice programs—similar to the one we have already set up in Washington, D.C. We want parents across the country to have a choice in their child's education.

You can also help students not on your everyday attendance lists. When schools underachieve, we need to make sure students get the extra help they need to avoid falling behind. In the past, lower-income families were at a disadvantage because they couldn't afford resources like tutoring and after-school enrichment programs. No Child Left Behind has leveled the playing field. Now when schools perennially fall short of their responsibilities, they must provide students with free access to supplemental educational services such as after-school tutoring.

So what does this have to do with you? I want to ask you to offer your services for this important cause. The president and I hope you will consider becoming providers of supplemental educational services.

Thousands of students in your communities could benefit from the knowledge and skill of your teachers. We will provide federal funds. We just need you to open your doors…just as you have always done for children in need. And you can do it in a program that protects your religious freedom because the Department has issued a faith-based regulation with strong language to protect religious organizations providing supplemental services.

Some Catholic organizations, including a few schools, have already joined the program. And they are already making a real difference. For example, Xavier University in New Orleans is a historically black Catholic college that is now serving as a provider of supplemental educational services. Xavier is providing over 40 eight and nine year-olds with valuable one-on-one reading instruction. I think that's great. And I hope more Catholic groups will follow Xavier's example. We need your help.

We need to continue to work together. When the president signed the No Child Left Behind Act three years ago, he sent a message that we believe all children—regardless of race, income, or special-need—can and should achieve in school. We know you share this philosophy.

Over a quarter of students in your schools are minority students. And almost half of all Catholic schools are located in urban or inner city neighborhoods. Most importantly, you have always been generous with tuition assistance.

At the Department of Education, we're committed to doing our part as well for the less fortunate students who attend your schools. Currently, over 128,000 Catholic school students benefit from Title I services for disadvantaged children. And we will continue to work with you to keep our promise to provide equitable services for private school students and teachers who participate in federal programs like Title I.

We also appreciate the commitment Catholic schools have made to ensuring students with disabilities receive the same educational opportunities as their peers. We share this mission at the Department of Education. And we look forward to working with you to ensure the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 works to serve the needs of disabled students in your schools. On Wednesday, John Hager, who is the assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, will lead a meeting with private and religious school leaders to discuss how we can best implement this law.

I know we must keep listening to you. I want to know what you think we are doing well and what you think we can do better. That's why I am calling for a special meeting with national private school leaders, including USCCB, to continue the conversation we are beginning today.

Both as the Secretary of Education and as a parent, I know what an important role Catholic schools play in the landscape of American education. I want to thank all of you for your hard work on behalf of my daughter and the 2.4 million other children in Catholic schools.

As we work to ensure every child receives a quality education, millions of parents will continue to rely on the quality of a Catholic school education. I know they will not be disappointed.

Thank you for inviting me to speak today. Now I would be happy to answer a few of your questions.

####