    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [June 27, 2002]
    [Page 1074]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Supreme Court Decision on Cleveland's School Choice
    Program
    June 27, 2002

        This landmark ruling is a victory for parents and children
    throughout America. By upholding the constitutionality of Cleveland's
    school choice program, the Supreme Court has offered the hope of an
    excellent education to parents and children throughout our country. This
    decision clears the way for other innovative school choice programs, so
    that no child in America will be left behind.
        School choice offers proven results of a better education, not only
    for children enrolled in the specific plan but also for children whose
    public schools benefit from the competition. The Milwaukee choice plan,
    begun in the early 1990s, has resulted in substantially improved reading
    and math scores for thousands of low-income children. The program has
    also had a positive impact on the entire public school system, which has
    responded to competition with better results.
        The education reforms we enacted earlier this year give
    unprecedented new options to parents of children trapped in low-
    performing schools. My budget builds on this act by adding important new
    options to empower parents--particularly low-income families--to improve
    their children's education. I urge Congress to move quickly to build on
    the momentum generated from this decision to enact my education
    priorities.