Seven years ago, Congress and President Clinton took urgent steps to turn around failing schools. These were important actions that launched changes in schools across America. Now we need to build on this progress with the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. More change is necessary if we are to turn around failing schools and give our children the education they need and deserve. Democrats and Republicans alike agree that no child should be left behind - regardless of background, race, or gender, or whether a child is homeless, a child of a migrant worker, or an immigrant.
Every child has the right to a high-quality education.
We commend President Bush for identifying education as one of his early priorities, and for encouraging Congress to act on needed reforms. We share the Administration's goals of greater help for local schools to meet the most urgent needs, and holding schools accountable for the results. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee took a major step towards strengthening and expanding the federal helping hand to support these kinds of innovations, and to help all children meet high standards of achievement. The centerpiece of the bill is new testing and accountability measures that will help parents, educators, and community members gauge how well our children are learning. We know that these reforms can work and we want to ensure every school succeeds.