More Resources Secretary's remarks Fact sheet Photos

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today met with business and higher education leaders in New York City to discuss America's higher education system and the business community's critical role in preparing our students to compete in the 21st Century global economy, as well the importance of reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The No Child Left Behind Act shines a spotlight on the nation's achievement gap and works to ensure that every child in America, regardless of race, income or zip code, receives a quality education.

Secretary Spellings commended the business community for their important role in ensuring America's students are prepared for college and the workforce during an event sponsored by the Teachers Insurance Annuity Association of America—College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), The Partnership for New York City and The Business Higher Education Forum.

"You know as well as anyone that in today's world, a college education is becoming more and more essential to achieving the American Dream," said Secretary Spellings. "Yet while two-thirds of high-growth, high-wage jobs require a college degree, only a third of Americans have one. We must create a nationwide appetite for math, science and rigorous graduation requirements, as well as need-based aid for college students."

While in New York, Secretary Spellings also visited the 21st Century Academy with New York City Department of Education Chancellor Joel Klein. Secretary Spellings met with students, teachers and school officials and discussed Chancellor Klein's support for NCLB and other education reforms and highlighted how the 21st Century Academy has raised student achievement by giving the principal more authority in school decisions.

"I am proud to be here today with a true warrior for education in New York City," said Secretary Spellings. "Chancellor Klein has been a tireless reformer and advocate for students like you."

Secretary Spellings also urged New York City to build on the progress and spirit of innovation at schools such as 21st Century Academy.

"The 21st Century Academy is a great example of the good things going on in New York City public schools," added Secretary Spellings. "Under Chancellor Klein's Empowerment School program, Principal Evelyn Linares has more control to make the changes that are best for her school."

Student performance at 21st Century Academy has been improving steadily—between 2000 and 2006, the percentage of students proficient in English and language arts has risen over 26 percent and the percentage of students proficient in math has risen over 34 percent. Between 2002 and 2005, the percentage of students proficient in math has risen by double-digit increments nearly every year.

In New York State, fourth-graders posted their highest math and reading scores in the history of the Nation's Report Card in 2005, including all-time highs for African American and Hispanic students in both subjects. New York eighth-graders also achieved their highest math score in the history of the test, including all-time highs for African American and Hispanic students.

"Every child deserves the chance to succeed and the opportunity to achieve at a school like 21st Century Academy," said Secretary Spellings. "That is why my Department is working hard to reauthorize No Child Left Behind, continue to promote flexibility and make changes to help low-performing schools turn around."

"At 21st Century Academy, students have access to two different after-school programs where you can receive help with homework and participate in enriching programs about music and art," added Secretary Spellings. "We need to give parents of students at restructuring schools increased options to get extra help like this."

Through the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, the Department is seeking ways to provide local leaders with more robust tools to target personnel, funding and free tutoring to the students who need them most and provide restructuring schools with the freedom they need to make necessary staffing changes. The Department has called for nearly $200 million for the Teacher Incentive Fund to provide incentives to get good teachers into the schools and classrooms that need them most and help close the achievement gap.

The Department is also working to make it easier for struggling schools to become charter schools and to allow states to lift arbitrary limits on charter schools to help superintendents in states like New York that have reached their charter school cap.

To view the Secretary's prepared remarks to business and higher education leaders in New York City, visit www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/02/02152007.html.

A fact sheet on the role businesses, community groups and foundations can play to make sure America's schoolchildren are prepared for the 21st Century is available at www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/business.html.

To learn more about the Secretary's higher education action plan and her Commission on the Future of Higher Education, please visit http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/plan/index.html.

To learn more about the administration's policy proposals for reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act, visit www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/reauth/index.html.

###

Top

Back to February 2007