[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 26 (Monday, July 1, 2002)]
[Page 1101]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.