It means mentors who can steer adolescents away from drugs and violence and toward college and a better life. Last February, the president sent Congress an education budget that includes support for each of these initiatives. And even though the fiscal year ended 8 weeks ago, Congress has yet to pass it. Negotiators came to a good-faith compromise in October but a few Congressional leaders pulled the rug out from under their own negotiators and rejected the compromise. The study we're releasing today demonstrates that kindergartners learn a lot over the course of about nine months.
Kindergarten provides hope for children.
Congress, too, can offer hope for America's schoolchildren. They can do this by passing a budget that reflects the high value of education in American life. And they need to do it sooner rather than later. I want to thank NCES once again for this fascinating study. There is a treasure of information here for parents, educators, and policymakers.