Bush Responds to Rising Tide of Testing Criticism]

[Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>]

Clearly the growing grassroots and academic protests to the idiocy of
the No Child Left Behind law are beginning to be heard at the White
House. President Bush devoted today's weekly radio address to a
diversionary response.



            BUSH URGES PERSISTENCE ON EDUCATION REFORM
                   CNN -- Saturday, January 4, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Saturday he wants the federal
government to follow through on the commitments made in a sweeping
overhaul of federal education programs he signed into law last year.

"The No Child Left Behind Act was a victory of bipartisan cooperation,"
Bush said in his weekly radio address. "By this law, we affirmed our
basic faith in the wisdom of parents and communities, and our
fundamental belief in the promise of every child.

"The work of reform is well begun, and we are determined to continue
that effort until every school in America is a place of learning and
achievement."

Bush signed the measure into law in January 2002. Its centerpiece is a
regimen of state tests in reading and math for all students in grades
three through eight, starting in the 2004-2005 school year, with science
tests beginning a year later.

"Across America, states and school districts are working hard to
implement these reforms," Bush said. "They are developing accountability
plans and beginning innovative tutoring plans. The path to real reform
and better results is not easy, but it is essential."

The No Child Left Behind Act was one of Bush's major campaign planks in
2000, and he touted its passage extensively while stumping for
candidates in the 2002 midterm elections.

But in a report issued Friday, an educational research group warned the
act's goals could be undercut by a lack of state and federal money as
states -- which provide most money for education -- face budget shortfalls.

The Center on Education Policy concluded that states have made
"significant progress" in reaching the law's goals, but the federal
government needs to provide more money to help them meet those requirements.

"Our leaders are making great promises, but they're not understanding
what has to change or providing the support for people in order to bring
about change," center director Jack Jennings said.

Bush said his administration is seeking "far more money than ever
before" to help states and local school districts -- including an
additional $1 billion for the Title I program that serves the neediest
students.

"Over the last two years, we have increased federal spending by 40
percent and, in return, we are insisting that schools use that money
wisely. States must set new and higher goals for every student, to
ensure that students are learning the basics of reading and math," he said.


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