More Resources No Child Left Behind Secretary's Remarks

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – – Just days after President Bush signed historic education reforms into law, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige held a first–ever meeting with state education leaders, beginning a new partnership to leave no child behind.

Secretary Paige and the senior leaders of the department of education joined nearly 30 education chiefs from around the country at the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens in Alexandria, Va., the historic ancestral home of President George Washington.

"Over the past two days, we invited education chiefs from every state and territory in the country for what we understand was the first such meeting in the department's history," Secretary Paige said. "I hope and expect that we have built relationships that will ensure this will not be the last."

The conference created an opportunity for Paige and his staff to outline many of the elements of the new law, and to hear comments and suggestions from the state education chiefs.

"This first-ever meeting was a substantive discussion," Paige said. "We want to be partners with the states and territories. Our success in leaving no child behind is dependent upon one another, and I look forward to the conversations that will continue in the future."

Paige also noted that Under Secretary of Education Gene Hickok and Susan Neuman, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, will lead the department's efforts to implement the new No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

"Now that the law has passed, the heavy lifting will begin," Paige said. "That's why I'm so pleased that Gene and Susan will be leading our implementation efforts – – engaging state chiefs, educators, parents and community and business leaders in an important conversation about how we can implement this historic law and ensure that no child in America is left behind."

State chiefs from around the country were invited to participate in the historic discussion. The following attended: Ray Simon, Arkansas; Delaine Eastin, California; Theodore Sergi, Connecticut; Joseph Tafoya, Department of Defense; Charlie Crist and James Horne, Florida; Rosie Tainatongo, Guam; Suellen Reed, Indiana; Ted Stilwill, Iowa; John Tompkins, Kansas; Gene Wilhoit, Kentucky; David Driscoll, Massachusetts; Nancy Grasmick, Maryland; Thomas Watkins, Michigan; Richard Thompson, Mississippi; Mike Ward, North Carolina; Wayne Sanstead, North Dakota; Jack McLaughlin, Nevada; Susan Zelman, Ohio; Charles Zogby, Pennsylvania; Peter McWalters, Rhode Island; Faye Taylor, Tennessee; Jim Nelson, Texas; Ruby Simmonds, Virgin Islands; David Stewart, West Virginia; Teresa Bergeson, Washington; and Judy Catchpole, Wyoming.

The new law, which President Bush signed this week in Hamilton, Ohio, will change the culture of America's schools and, most important, improve student achievement in classrooms across the country.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 passed both houses of Congress by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in December, fulfilling President Bush's promise to offer America's students meaningful education reform as his foremost domestic policy priority.

Under the new law, states and school districts will develop strong systems of accountability based upon student performance. The new law also gives those states and school districts increased local control and flexibility, removing federal red tape and bureaucracy and putting decision–making in the hands of those at the local and state levels.

Parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will have options under the new law to participate in public school choice programs or obtain supplemental services such as tutoring. And teachers around the country will be encouraged to use teaching methods that are based upon scientific research demonstrating that they work.

Among other provisions, the act will:

• Enhance accountability for results by requiring states to issue annual report cards on school performance and statewide results;
• Authorize $400 million to help states design and administer tests for students in grades 3–8 that are aligned to state standards for what a child should be able to know and do in the basic subjects of reading and math;
• Provide unprecedented state and local flexibility for all 50 states and every local school district in America in the use of federal education funds;
• Give parents of children in failing schools the option to transfer their child to a better–performing public or charter school, and – – where failure persists – – it will allow federal Title I funds to be used to provide supplemental education services (including tutoring, after–school services and summer school programs);
• Triple the federal funding investment in reading and ensure that teachers are using instructional methods that have been proven to work through Reading First; and
• Invest almost $3 billion in improving teacher quality this year alone while asking states to put a highly qualified teacher in every public school classroom by 2005.

For more information about the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, visit www.ed.gov/nclb.

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