36 Jan. 9 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 Remarks on Implementation of the But I want to repeat some of the things No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 I said yesterday. First of all, I know the folks in Crawford, Texas, won’t believe this, but January 9, 2002 Ted Kennedy is an able, good man. [Laugh- ter] This bill would not have happened had Thank you all so very much for that warm he decided not to work to make it happen. welcome. It’s really great to be here with so He put his mind to it. I learned this: You many men and women who have made edu- cation your life’s work. want him on your side in a legislative battle. Yesterday I had the high honor of signing I also want to thank George Miller from H.R. 1—the No Child Left Behind Act— the State of California. George is a proud which begins a new and hopeful era for liberal, but also he’s a proud author of this American education. We’re bringing new re- bill. He cares deeply about a system that sources and higher standards to struggling quits on its kids—he wants to change it. I schools. We’re placing greater emphasis on like him so much, I gave him a nickname: the basics of reading and math. And we’re Big George. [Laughter] giving parents better information and more But I’ve enjoyed working with these two say in how their sons and daughters are edu- Democrats. They are a credit to their party cated. but, more importantly, a credit to our coun- Two decades ago, experts looked at public try. education and saw ‘‘A Nation At Risk.’’ A na- Yesterday I signed the bill in Chairman tion described at risk is now a nation on the Boehner’s district. [Applause] I knew road to reform. Boehner had a big family; I didn’t realize it I am so proud of what our administration was that big. [Laughter] I did so because and Members of Congress from both polit- John was a steady influence in the process; ical parties have achieved. We have shown he kept the process moving forward, even what is possible in Washington, DC. We have in the face of 9/11. He said, ‘‘We’ve got to shown that if you put the Nation’s interests get a bill,’’ and he worked hard to bring peo- ahead of political party, you can achieve ple together to get it done. Mr. Chairman, mighty, mighty reform. you did a fabulous job, and I thank you. The House and the Senate passed edu- I want to thank the other Members of cation legislation by overwhelming margins. Congress who are here. Mike Castle is here I signed the legislation into law. And now from the State of Delaware; Van Hilleary much of the real work begins. Now we must from Tennessee; Johnny Isakson from Geor- turn our principles into progress and gia; Tim Roemer from Indiana; Bobby Scott progress into excellence and excellence into from Virginia; and a delegate from Puerto the lives of hope and achievement. Rico, Delegate Anibal Acevedo-Vila. Thank I want to thank Secretary Rod Paige and you for all coming here today. all who work at the Department of Edu- And then we’re going to pass some of the cation. America is getting to know that I power—as you know, you’ll hear soon—out picked a good man to be the Secretary of of Washington, and it’s going to be up to Education. The guy is down to Earth. He’s the Governors to make things happen. And got a lot of experience. He ran a huge school fortunately, we’ve got four fine Governors district in the State of Texas and brought ex- with us today: Roy Barnes of Georgia; Sila cellence, the standard of excellence, into Calderon of Puerto Rico; Mark Schweiker of classrooms in Houston, Texas. Pennsylvania; and my brother. Thank you all I want to thank three of the four members for coming. of our merry band of travelers. [Laughter] Republicans and Democrats share the Yesterday we went around parts of our coun- same basic commitments on education. We try together. It was my honor to travel with believe good public schools should not be is- Miller and Boehner and Kennedy and Judd lands of excellence. They should be found Gregg. I figure Judd got tired of hearing us, in every city and in every neighborhood in so he peeled off. [Laughter] America. We believe that no child should VerDate 11-MAY-2000 07:57 Jan 15, 2002 Jkt 197250 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P02JAT4.011 pfrm07 PsN: P02JAT4 Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 / Jan. 9 37 ever be written off, because every child is ham, New Hampshire, and Boston, Massa- important, and every child can learn. chusetts. I was with parents and teachers who We believe education is a national priority know the faces and names and needs of their and a local responsibility, that Washington own children. Local schools now have a man- should be giving our schools help, not giving date to reform, and we are giving them the them orders. We share these convictions, and freedom to reform. we have acted on them. We have given new It is the job of the local folks to chart the tools of reform to teachers and principals, path for excellence for every single child in local and State officials, and parents. Now America, and we trust them to do so. As a we must finish the job. result of this bill, local officials now have un- We have a great task to complete, and ev- precedented flexibility to decide where to eryone has responsibilities to meet. Those re- spend money and target reforms. We are in- sponsibilities begin in the classroom. The No creasing support and funding for research Child Left Behind Act provides new training into teaching methods that work. And we will opportunities for teachers to develop their spend almost $400 million to help States de- professional skills and their knowledge. The sign and administer tests. In return, we ex- law gives incentives to hire and train teach- pect States to set standards of basic knowl- ers, and it backs up teachers who impose rea- edge and to make steady progress toward sonable discipline in their classrooms. We meeting those standards. Every student in want teachers in charge of their classrooms, grades three through eight will be tested in not plaintiff’s attorneys. reading and math. We’re also putting more resources into the Every time I talk about testing, I some- classroom. This year, the Federal Govern- times see people wince—particularly, the ment will spend more than $22 billion on students. They don’t like to take tests. elementary and secondary education, an in- [Laughter] My attitude is, too bad. [Laugh- crease of more than 25 percent over last year. ter] How can you correct problems if you Because of our commitment to assist low in- do not diagnose the problem in the first come students, we will increase spending on place? Title I by 18 percent. Because teachers are In order to make sure children are not sim- so important, we will increase spending on ply shuffled through the system, we must teacher training by 33 percent. And because measure. We must determine what needs to reading is the gateway to all learning, we will be corrected early, before it’s too late. States more than triple Federal funding for early must show us that overall student achieve- reading programs. We are willing to spend ment is improving, and as importantly, they more for education, and we will spend it on must show that the achievement gap be- what works. tween the disadvantaged students and other In return for this commitment, my admin- students is closing. And in particular, in istration and the American people expect re- grades three through eight, all school dis- sults. We expect every child to learn basic tricts—I mean all school districts—must skills. We expect failing schools to be turned show that students can read and write effec- around. We expect teachers and principals tively. to do their jobs well, to have a firm grasp I expect most schools will rise to the chal- on their subject matter, and to welcome lenge. I believe that. Some may not, and they measurement and accountability. must be held accountable. They will have All who have chosen the noble profession time to improve; they will have incentives to of teaching should know this: We are count- improve; and they will have the resources to ing on your energy and your imagination to improve, as a result of this bill. And if they make these reforms real for America’s chil- still do not improve, there are real con- dren. You have our confidence, and you’ll sequences and new options for parents. have our support. The local and State officials in charge of Local and State officials have responsibil- America’s schools carry a great trust, and we ities, as well. Yesterday, I mentioned, I went really are counting on you all. You are the to Hamilton, Ohio. Then we went to Dur- rising generation of reformers. You can serve VerDate 11-MAY-2000 07:57 Jan 15, 2002 Jkt 197250 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P02JAT4.011 pfrm07 PsN: P02JAT4 38 Jan.