The following highlights the accomplishments of the Education Department and the president’s education reform proposals for the first 180 days of President Bush’s administration:

Legislative Victories

Within the first 180 days of the new administration, both houses of Congress passed versions of the president’s education bill by overwhelming bipartisan majorities – 384-45 in the House and 91-8 in the Senate.

On the eve of the 180^th day, the members of the House Senate Conference Committee met for the first time to develop a final education bill that will reflect President Bush’s No Child Left Behind plan for reforming our public school systems.

Paige visits America’s schools

Within the first 180 days of the new administration, Secretary Paige visited 20 elementary, middle and high schools and four college campuses in 20 states stretching from California to Maine.

Secretary Paige delivered commencement addresses at three universities – the University of Connecticut, Grambling State University and his alma mater, Jackson State University.

Making No Child Left Behind a reality

Thousands of students, teachers, administrators and parents in schools around the country have had the opportunity to meet with Secretary Paige and discuss the President’s No Child Left Behind plan and how it will help their students and schools. He has personally recognized outstanding students, teachers and principals from every state in the country at forums sponsored by the department.

Secretary Paige addressed more than 60 education and civic groups during the first 180 days of this administration during visits to 23 states and in the District of Columbia. Among those groups are the National Governors Association, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Education Commission of the States, the Education Writers Association, the International Reading Association, the Manhattan Institute and the Business Roundtable.

Launched new initiatives

Secretary Paige launched No Such Thing as a Vacation from Reading – the department’s campaign to encourage families to read together during the summer to help young children develop and strengthen reading skills and prevent summer fall-off among school-aged children.

At the National Summit on the 21^st Century Workforce, Secretary Paige announced a partnership between the Department of Labor and the Department of Education to enhance the quality of basic skills training in reading and math offered to young adults and adults through workforce training programs.

Attacked financial management challenges

As of the 180-day mark, President Bush has selected experienced and talented individuals to work with Secretary Paige as his deputy secretary, under secretary, general counsel, chief financial officer, rehabilitation services administration commissioner and eight assistant secretaries.

Before the end of the first 180 days of the new Administration, Secretary Paige announced that the initiative he launched in April to address persistent fraud and mismanagement at the department had tackled more than 300 audit and management recommendations.

Secretary Paige also announced that in addition to recovering $65 million in student loan default costs through the use of a new database, the department had recovered almost $300 million in department funds previously called into question by the department’s inspector general.

Support for states, school districts and students

The Department of Education has distributed over $9.5 billion in grants since January 21^st to state and local education agencies and programs to support the learning experience of students at all levels.

Through its student financial assistance programs, the department has provided aid and support to some 7 million American students seeking ways to finance their post-secondary education.