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Home , No Child Left Behind Act

Jan. 8 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002

Boston Latin School; Gov. Jane Swift of Mas- Act of 2001, approved January 8, was as- sachusetts; and Mayor Thomas M. Menino signed Public Law No. 107–110. of Boston. H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind

Remarks on Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 January 9, 2002

Thank you all so very much for that and brought excellence, the standard of ex- warm welcome. It’s really great to be here cellence, into classrooms in , . with so many men and women who have I want to thank three of the four mem- made your life’s work. bers of our merry band of travelers. Yesterday I had the high honor of signing [Laughter] Yesterday we went around parts H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, of our country together. It was my honor which begins a new and hopeful era for to travel with Miller and Boehner and American education. We’re bringing new Kennedy and . I figure Judd resources and higher standards to struggling got tired of hearing us, so he peeled off. schools. We’re placing greater emphasis on [Laughter] the basics of and math. And we’re But I want to repeat some of the things giving parents better information and more I said yesterday. First of all, I know the say in how their sons and daughters are folks in Crawford, Texas, won’t believe this, educated. but is an able, good man. Two decades ago, experts looked at pub- [Laughter] This bill would not have hap- lic education and saw ‘‘A Nation At Risk.’’ pened had he decided not to work to make A nation described at risk is now a nation it happen. He put his mind to it. I learned on the road to reform. this: You want him on your side in a legisla- I am so proud of what our administration tive battle. and Members of Congress from both polit- I also want to thank George Miller from ical parties have achieved. We have shown what is possible in , DC. We the State of . George is a proud have shown that if you put the Nation’s liberal, but also he’s a proud author of this interests ahead of political party, you can bill. He cares deeply about a system that achieve mighty, mighty reform. quits on its kids—he wants to change it. The House and the Senate passed edu- I like him so much, I gave him a nickname, cation legislation by overwhelming margins. ‘‘Big George.’’ [Laughter] I signed the legislation into law. And now But I’ve enjoyed working with these two much of the real work begins. Now we Democrats. They are a credit to their party must turn our principles into progress and but, more importantly, a credit to our coun- progress into excellence and excellence into try. the lives of hope and achievement. Yesterday I signed the bill in Chairman I want to thank Secretary and Boehner’s district. [Applause] I knew all who work at the Department of Edu- Boehner had a big family; I didn’t realize cation. America is getting to know that I it was that big. [Laughter] I did so because picked a good man to be the Secretary John was a steady influence in the process; of Education. The guy is down to earth. he kept the process moving forward, even He’s got a lot of experience. He ran a in the face of 9/11. He said, ‘‘We’ve got huge school district in the State of Texas to get a bill,’’ and he worked hard to bring

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people together to get it done. Mr. Chair- We’re also putting more resources into man, you did a fabulous job, and I thank the classroom. This year, the Federal Gov- you. ernment will spend more than $22 billion I want to thank the other Members of on elementary and secondary education, an Congress who are here: Mike Castle is here increase of more than 25 percent over last from the State of ; Van Hilleary year. Because of our commitment to assist from ; from low-income students, we will increase ; from ; Bobby spending on Title I by 18 percent. Because Scott from ; and a delegate from are so important, we will increase Puerto Rico, Delegate Anibal Acevedo-Vila. spending on training by 33 percent. Thank you for all coming here today. And because reading is the gateway to all And then we’re going to pass some of learning, we will more than triple Federal the power, as you know—you’ll hear soon— funding for early reading programs. We are out of Washington, and it’s going to be willing to spend more for education, and up to the Governors to make things hap- we will spend it on what works. pen. And fortunately, we’ve got four fine In return for this commitment, my ad- Governors with us today: Roy Barnes of ministration and the American people ex- Georgia; Sila Calderon of Puerto Rico; pect results. We expect every child to learn basic skills. We expect failing schools to Mark Schweiker of ; and my be turned around. We expect teachers and brother. Thank you all for coming. principals to do their jobs well, to have Republicans and Democrats share the a firm grasp on their subject matter, and same basic commitments on education. We to welcome measurement and account- believe good public schools should not be ability. islands of excellence. They should be found All who have chosen the noble profession in every city and in every neighborhood of teaching should know this: We are in America. We believe that no child counting on your energy and your imagina- should ever be written off, because every tion to make these reforms real for Amer- child is important, and every child can ica’s children. You have our confidence, learn. We believe education is a national and you’ll have our support. priority and a local responsibility, that Local and State officials have responsibil- Washington should be giving our schools ities, as well. Yesterday, I mentioned, I help, not giving them orders. We share went to Hamilton, . Then we went these convictions, and we have acted on to Durham, New Hampshire, and Boston, them. We have given new tools of reform . I was with parents and to teachers and principals, local and State teachers who know the faces and names officials, and parents. Now we must finish and needs of their own children. Local the job. schools now have a mandate to reform, and We have a great task to complete, and we are giving them the freedom to reform. everyone has responsibilities to meet. Those It is the job of the local folks to chart responsibilities begin in the classroom. The the path for excellence for every single No Child Left Behind Act provides new child in America, and we trust them to training opportunities for teachers to de- do so. As a result of this bill, local officials velop their professional skills and their now have unprecedented flexibility to de- knowledge. The law gives incentives to hire cide where to spend money and target re- and train teachers, and it backs up teachers forms. We are increasing support and fund- who impose reasonable discipline in their ing for research into teaching methods that classrooms. We want teachers in charge of work. And we will spend almost $400 mil- their classrooms, not plaintiff’s attorneys. lion to help States design and administer

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tests. In return, we expect States to set ents will have the information they need standards of basic knowledge and to make to do what is best for their children. Par- steady progress toward meeting those ents will have access to an annual report standards. Every student in grades three card on school performance. And they’ll through eight will be tested in reading and have access to statewide results. They will math. know the qualifications of the teachers and Every time I talk about testing, I some- their children’s achievements in key sub- times see people wince—particularly the jects. If schools persistently fail their chil- students. They don’t like to take tests. dren, parents will have more options: a bet- [Laughter] My attitude is, too bad. [Laugh- ter public school, a , or a ter] How can you correct problems if you tutor. do not diagnose the problem in the first In return, we expect that parents will place? use this information. Parents need to pay In order to make sure children are not attention to school performance. They simply shuffled through the system, we should insist on results, and when nec- must measure. We must determine what essary, they must be strong advocates for needs to be corrected early, before it’s too change. They should offer praise when they late. States must show us that overall stu- can and pressure when it’s called for. If dent achievement is improving, and as im- you’re a parent, visit your child’s school; portantly, they must show that the achieve- get to know the teachers and principals; ment gap between the disadvantaged stu- support the school; and demand excellence. dents and other students is closing. And And remember that every child should in particular, in grades three through eight, come to school ready to learn. Good man- all school districts—I mean all school dis- ners and respect for teachers are learned tricts—must show that students can read at home. Good study habits are reinforced and write effectively. by mothers and fathers who are willing to I expect most schools will rise to the switch off the TV set and turn off video challenge. I believe that. Some may not, games to make sure the homework gets and they must be held accountable. They done. As parents, you’re entitled to expect will have time to improve; they will have a lot from schools and teachers, and schools incentives to improve; and they will have and teachers are entitled to expect some the resources to improve, as a result of things from you as well. this bill. And if they still do not improve, This Nation has waited many years for there are real consequences and new op- major reform in education. We’ve now tions for parents. achieved it. And we’re wasting no time in The local and State officials in charge implementing it. Tonight Secretary Paige of America’s schools carry a great trust, and will meet with State education leaders on we really are counting on you all. You are plans to put these reforms to work. the rising generation of reformers. You can This is an hour of promise for America’s serve your community, and you can serve public schools. My signature is now on the your country. Do not settle for mediocrity. law, but it was the work of many hands. Accept no excuses. Set high goals, and raise Together, we have overcome old arguments them again, and keep raising the standards. and outdated policies. And now, together, That is the task of leadership, and we trust let us see these changes through until every you to take it on. school succeeds and no child is left behind. The success of these reforms also de- Thank you. pends on parents. To be a mom or a dad is to be your child’s first and most impor- NOTE: The President spoke at 1:28 p.m. at tant teacher. So under this new law, par- DAR Constitution Hall. In his remarks, he

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referred to Gov. Roy E. Barnes of Georgia; 382), which amended Title I of the Elemen- Gov. Sila M. Calderon of Puerto Rico; Gov. tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 Mark Schweiker of Pennsylvania; and Gov. (Public Law No. 89–10). H.R. 1, the No of . The President also re- Child Left Behind Act of 2001, approved ferred to Title I of the Improving America’s January 8, was assigned Public Law No. 107– Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law No. 103– 110.

Statement on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan January 9, 2002

On June 4, 2001, I joined the Governor Because the Federal Government’s pri- of Florida in visiting the Everglades. The mary interest is in restoration and protec- Everglades and the entire south Florida tion of the federally owned natural re- ecosystem are a unique national treasure. sources in the State, the Congress called The restoration of this ecosystem is a pri- for the President and the Governor to ority for my administration, as well as for agree formally that the State would reserve Governor Bush. Today we are very pleased under State law for each restoration project to solidify our commitment and full part- water sufficient to meet the needs of the nership in this unprecedented endeavor by south Florida ecosystem, including Ever- signing a joint agreement to ensure that glades National Park, the Big Cypress Na- adequate water supplies will be available tional Preserve, and other natural areas to benefit State and federally owned natural owned by the State and Federal Govern- resources. ment. The reservation of water under State The Water Resources Development Act law will be included in the Project Imple- of 2000 authorized the Comprehensive Ev- mentation Report for each project and will erglades Restoration Plan. The plan has a be consistent with the plan. projected cost of $7.8 billion over 30 years, the largest ecosystem restoration project My administration is deeply committed ever undertaken. The plan establishes a to the Federal/State Everglades partner- unique 50/50 cost-sharing partnership be- ship, and the Department of the Interior tween the State of Florida and the Federal and the Army Corps of Engineers will have Government. important roles in this effort. On January A critical component of the plan relates 16, 2001, Secretary of the Interior Norton to the supply and management of water will convene a meeting in Plantation, Flor- for multiple uses in south Florida—restora- ida, of the South Florida Ecosystem Res- tion, municipal, agricultural, and flood con- toration Task Force comprised of rep- trol. The Congress determined that the resentatives of Federal, State, regional, overarching objective of the plan is the res- local, and tribal governments to discuss toration, preservation, and protection of the issues involving Everglades restoration in- south Florida ecosystem, while providing cluding the recently released draft pro- for other water-related needs of the region, grammatic regulations by the Army Corps including water supply and flood protec- of Engineers. tion.

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