[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 2 (Monday, January 14, 2002)]
[Pages 36-38]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

January 9, 2002

    Thank you all so very much for that warm welcome. It's really great 
to be here with so many men and women who have made education your 
life's work.
    Yesterday I had the high honor of signing H.R. 1--the No Child Left 
Behind Act--which begins a new and hopeful era for American education. 
We're bringing new resources and higher standards to struggling schools. 
We're placing greater emphasis on the basics of reading and math. And 
we're giving parents better information and more say in how their sons 
and daughters are educated.
    Two decades ago, experts looked at public education and saw ``A 
Nation At Risk.'' A nation described at risk is now a nation on the road 
to reform.
    I am so proud of what our administration and Members of Congress 
from both political parties have achieved. We have shown what is 
possible in Washington, DC. We have shown that if you put the Nation's 
interests ahead of political party, you can achieve mighty, mighty 
reform.
    The House and the Senate passed education legislation by 
overwhelming margins. I signed the legislation into law. And now much of 
the real work begins. Now we must turn our principles into progress and 
progress into excellence and excellence into the lives of hope and 
achievement.
    I want to thank Secretary Rod Paige and all who work at the 
Department of Education. America is getting to know that I picked a good 
man to be the Secretary of Education. The guy is down to Earth. He's got 
a lot of experience. He ran a huge school district in the State of Texas 
and brought excellence, the standard of excellence, into classrooms in 
Houston, Texas.
    I want to thank three of the four members of our merry band of 
travelers. [Laughter] Yesterday we went around parts of our country 
together. It was my honor to travel with Miller and Boehner and Kennedy 
and Judd Gregg. I figure Judd got tired of hearing us, so he peeled off. 
[Laughter]
    But I want to repeat some of the things I said yesterday. First of 
all, I know the folks in Crawford, Texas, won't believe this, but Ted 
Kennedy is an able, good man. [Laughter] This bill would not have 
happened had he decided not to work to make it happen. He put his mind 
to it. I learned this: You want him on your side in a legislative 
battle.
    I also want to thank George Miller from the State of California. 
George is a proud liberal, but also he's a proud author of this bill. He 
cares deeply about a system that quits on its kids--he wants to change 
it. I like him so much, I gave him a nickname: Big George. [Laughter]
    But I've enjoyed working with these two Democrats. They are a credit 
to their party but, more importantly, a credit to our country.
    Yesterday I signed the bill in Chairman Boehner's district. 
[Applause] I knew Boehner had a big family; I didn't realize it was that 
big. [Laughter] I did so because John was a steady influence in the 
process; he kept the process moving forward, even in the face of 9/11. 
He said, ``We've got to get a bill,'' and he worked hard to bring people 
together to get it done. Mr. Chairman, you did a fabulous job, and I 
thank you.
    I want to thank the other Members of Congress who are here. Mike 
Castle is here from the State of Delaware; Van Hilleary from Tennessee; 
Johnny Isakson from Georgia; Tim Roemer from Indiana; Bobby Scott from 
Virginia; and a delegate from Puerto Rico, Delegate Anibal Acevedo-Vila. 
Thank you for all coming here today.
    And then we're going to pass some of the power--as you know, you'll 
hear soon--out of Washington, and it's going to be up to the Governors 
to make things happen. And fortunately, we've got four fine Governors 
with us today: Roy Barnes of Georgia; Sila Calderon of Puerto Rico; Mark 
Schweiker of Pennsylvania; and my brother. Thank you all for coming.
    Republicans and Democrats share the same basic commitments on 
education. We believe good public schools should not be islands of 
excellence. They should be found in every city and in every neighborhood 
in America. We believe that no child should

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ever be written off, because every child is important, and every child 
can learn.
    We believe education is a national priority and a local 
responsibility, that Washington should be giving our schools help, not 
giving them orders. We share these convictions, and we have acted on 
them. We have given new tools of reform to teachers and principals, 
local and State officials, and parents. Now we must finish the job.
    We have a great task to complete, and everyone has responsibilities 
to meet. Those responsibilities begin in the classroom. The No Child 
Left Behind Act provides new training opportunities for teachers to 
develop their professional skills and their knowledge. The law gives 
incentives to hire and train teachers, and it backs up teachers who 
impose reasonable discipline in their classrooms. We want teachers in 
charge of their classrooms, not plaintiff's attorneys.
    We're also putting more resources into the classroom. This year, the 
Federal Government will spend more than $22 billion on elementary and 
secondary education, an increase of more than 25 percent over last year. 
Because of our commitment to assist low income students, we will 
increase spending on Title I by 18 percent. Because teachers are so 
important, we will increase spending on teacher training by 33 percent. 
And because reading is the gateway to all learning, we will more than 
triple Federal funding for early reading programs. We are willing to 
spend more for education, and we will spend it on what works.
    In return for this commitment, my administration and the American 
people expect results. We expect every child to learn basic skills. We 
expect failing schools to be turned around. We expect teachers and 
principals to do their jobs well, to have a firm grasp on their subject 
matter, and to welcome measurement and accountability.
    All who have chosen the noble profession of teaching should know 
this: We are counting on your energy and your imagination to make these 
reforms real for America's children. You have our confidence, and you'll 
have our support.
    Local and State officials have responsibilities, as well. Yesterday, 
I mentioned, I went to Hamilton, Ohio. Then we went to Durham, New 
Hampshire, and Boston, Massachusetts. I was with parents and teachers 
who know the faces and names and needs of their own children. Local 
schools now have a mandate to reform, and we are giving them the freedom 
to reform.
    It is the job of the local folks to chart the path for excellence 
for every single child in America, and we trust them to do so. As a 
result of this bill, local officials now have unprecedented flexibility 
to decide where to spend money and target reforms. We are increasing 
support and funding for research into teaching methods that work. And we 
will spend almost $400 million to help States design and administer 
tests. In return, we expect States to set standards of basic knowledge 
and to make steady progress toward meeting those standards. Every 
student in grades three through eight will be tested in reading and 
math.
    Every time I talk about testing, I sometimes see people wince--
particularly, the students. They don't like to take tests. [Laughter] My 
attitude is, too bad. [Laughter] How can you correct problems if you do 
not diagnose the problem in the first place?
    In order to make sure children are not simply shuffled through the 
system, we must measure. We must determine what needs to be corrected 
early, before it's too late. States must show us that overall student 
achievement is improving, and as importantly, they must show that the 
achievement gap between the disadvantaged students and other students is 
closing. And in particular, in grades three through eight, all school 
districts--I mean all school districts--must show that students can read 
and write effectively.
    I expect most schools will rise to the challenge. I believe that. 
Some may not, and they must be held accountable. They will have time to 
improve; they will have incentives to improve; and they will have the 
resources to improve, as a result of this bill. And if they still do not 
improve, there are real consequences and new options for parents.
    The local and State officials in charge of America's schools carry a 
great trust, and we really are counting on you all. You are the rising 
generation of reformers. You can serve

[[Page 38]]

your community, and you can serve your country. Do not settle for 
mediocrity. Accept no excuses. Set high goals and raise them again and 
keep raising the standards. That is the task of leadership, and we trust 
you to take it on.
    The success of these reforms also depends on parents. To be a mom or 
a dad is to be your child's first and most important teacher. So under 
this new law, parents will have the information they need to do what is 
best for their children. Parents will have access to an annual report 
card on school performance. And they'll have access to statewide 
results. They will know the qualifications of the teachers and their 
children's achievements in key subjects. If schools persistently fail 
their children, parents will have more options: a better public school, 
a charter school, or a tutor.
    In return, we expect that parents will use this information. Parents 
need to pay attention to school performance. They should insist on 
results, and when necessary, they must be strong advocates for change. 
They should offer praise when they can and pressure when it's called 
for. If you're a parent, visit your child's school; get to know the 
teachers and principals; support the school; and demand excellence. And 
remember that every child should come to school ready to learn. Good 
manners and respect for teachers are learned at home. Good study habits 
are reinforced by mothers and fathers who are willing to switch off the 
TV set and turn off video games to make sure the homework gets done. As 
parents, you're entitled to expect a lot from schools and teachers, and 
schools and teachers are entitled to expect some things from you, as 
well.
    This Nation has waited many years for major reform in education. 
We've now achieved it. And we're wasting no time in implementing it. 
Tonight Secretary Paige will meet with State education leaders on plans 
to put these reforms to work.
    This is an hour of promise for America's public schools. My 
signature is now on the law, but it was the work of many hands. 
Together, we have overcome old arguments and outdated policies. And now, 
together, let us see these changes through until every school succeeds 
and no child is left behind.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:28 p.m. at DAR Constitution Hall. In his 
remarks, he referred to Gov. Roy E. Barnes of Georgia; Gov. Sila M. 
Calderon of Puerto Rico; Gov. Mark Schweiker of Pennsylvania; and Gov. 
Jeb Bush of Florida. The President also referred to Title I of the 
Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law No. 103-382), which 
amended Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(Public Law No. 89-10).