U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige today issued the following statement on Education Week's "Quality Counts 2003" report, which focuses on the quality of the nation's teaching force:

"The findings articulated in the Quality Counts report are not a surprise. We have many great teachers, but not nearly enough. We must do a better job of preparing future teachers, and providing current teachers with rigorous professional development to help them strengthen their knowledge and skills.

"The lack of subject area expertise among many teachers, especially in schools serving disadvantaged children, was in large measure the driving force behind the No Child Left Behind Act's bold goal of requiring a highly qualified teacher in every classroom in America.

"The best way to make sure our children learn—even those in the most challenging circumstances—is to have a teacher at the front of the classroom who knows the subject matter.

"I will continue to work with state and local education leaders to help them ensure that every teacher is a quality teacher and that no child is left behind."

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