More Resources Audio excerpt Blue Ribbon Schools

Thank you, Laurie Rich, for that kind introduction. I also want to thank Congressmen John Boehner and Richard Burr for being here today. They both have been true friends of America's schools. And I want to congratulate Congressman Boehner on his reelection and Congressman Burr on his election to the United States Senate.

It's also good to see Governor Haley Barbour here today. He has done so much for our schools, especially in my home state of Mississippi.

And finally, I want to thank a few more special people, whom I think your students will be jealous they missed. We have singing sensation Lance Bass, television star Doris Roberts, and talent agent Sam Haskell with us today, and I want to thank them for all the work they have done on behalf of our children.

It is a pleasure to be here with you today. As educators, we strive for nothing less than excellence—excellence in every classroom and for every student.

While some question whether excellence is possible for all students and say we should settle for less, you prove otherwise. Educational excellence is not just a dream; it can be a reality. You have seen it within the halls and classrooms of your own schools. And today, we acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments.

You are here as representatives of our No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools. Your schools are the very best in the country. Let me try to put your accomplishments into perspective. There are well over 100,000 public and private schools in the country. Of those schools, fewer than 300 can claim to be Blue Ribbon Schools. That's less than half a percent. Congratulations. Give yourselves a round of applause.

The impact of your hard work extends far beyond the schools where you teach. Today's students will be tomorrow's scientists, entrepreneurs, social workers, leaders, and teachers. By entrusting our children to your care each day, we entrust you with the future of our entire nation. And with professionals like you, we can feel confident our future is in good hands.

I congratulate you for all of your success. I know that you share today's honor with all of your fellow teachers and administrators. Today, I also want to thank the parents and communities that support your work. And of course, we cannot forget your students, who have worked so hard and accomplished so much. We are very proud of each and every one of them.

We are here today to celebrate your success, but we also hope to learn from it. We want every school in America to achieve what you have achieved. And thanks to the historic No Child Left Behind Act, we are making progress toward that goal. By learning from your example and working together, we can make excellence the standard in all of our schools. And we can ensure that every child receives a quality education.

Unfortunately, for many years, our nation turned a blind eye to the problems in our schools. While some students received a quality education, millions of others were mired in mediocrity. The vast majority of these students were minority, low-income, and special-needs students. These students slipped through the cracks of our system. The result was a dangerous achievement gap, which left America's most vulnerable students behind their peers in school and in life.

Before No Child Left Behind, we tried to mend this problem by simply throwing more and more money at it. Between 1966 and 2000, the federal government spent almost $130 billion on programs for disadvantaged students, but little changed. Test scores in reading were basically flat during the period between 1992 and 2000. There were some improvements in some areas, but the rate of improvement was slow and clearly did not reflect the money spent. The education system itself needed to be transformed.

Change came in the form of the No Child Left Behind Act. President Bush and representatives from both sides of the aisle came together to restore accountability to our schools. The law requires states to set standards for achievement, to test students to see if they achieve those standards, and, if not, to provide additional resources to ensure they do. It empowers parents with more information and more choices. And for the first time ever, all 50 states have designed and implemented their own accountability plans. We know every child can succeed in school, and now we expect our schools to make sure they all do.

President Bush has provided record federal funding to support these changes. Next year, federal funding for education will be $57 billion—a 36 percent increase since the president took office. The days of throwing money at problems are over. We expect real results from this record investment in education.

And so far, the returns are encouraging. The law is working. Scores are improving. And the achievement gap is closing. For example, the percentage of African American and Hispanic fourth-graders with basic reading and math skills increased more between 2000 and 2003 than in the previous eight years combined. That's real progress.

We have awarded your schools Blue Ribbons because they exemplify the great promise of No Child Left Behind.

Since 1982, the Department of Education has named Blue Ribbon Schools to recognize excellence. But as we entered a new age in American education with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, we realized we needed to change our definition of "excellence." We wanted to reward results. We wanted to honor schools closing the achievement gap and reaching the highest levels of achievement.

We started by renaming this program "The No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Program." Then we drew up new quantitative criteria. First, we wanted to recognize schools with a high percentage of disadvantaged students that are making dramatic improvements on state assessments. Second, we wanted to recognize all schools whose students score in the top 10 percent on state tests. And third, we wanted to honor private schools that perform in the top 10 percent of schools nationally.

Congratulations! Each of your schools has earned one of these impressive distinctions. Over the last few months, I have had the chance to visit many of your schools. I have seen your classrooms, spoken with your students, and listened to your fellow teachers. And every time I step foot into a Blue Ribbon School, I know I am in a special place.

You are an inspiration to schools across the country. You come from the ranks of public, private, and religious schools. You come from schools in the inner city, the suburbs, and the countryside. You come from low-income, middle class, and wealthy neighborhoods. You prove academic excellence knows no boundaries. You prove that each and every child can succeed in a good school.

As a nation, we will continue to look to your leadership. If we are to give every child a quality education... if we are to give every child a chance to succeed in the 21st century... if we are to realize the great promise of No Child Left Behind, we must learn from your success.

You are a source of hope for teachers, parents, and students in communities across the country. I know that by following your example, all of our schools can achieve excellence.

Today, I thank you for your dedication to our children and their futures. As you return to your communities, share your skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm with others. And most importantly, continue your good work. There is no more important job. Congratulations. You have made the president and me proud.

Thank you, and God bless.

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