[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 15 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Pages 448-449]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Parochial Education Leaders and Parents

April 13, 2007

    Secretary Spellings and I have just had the privilege of talking to 
some of our country's leading educational entrepreneurs. We had the 
privilege of talking to parents whose lives have been positively 
affected by our Catholic school system. One of the great assets in the 
United States is the Catholic schools, which oftentimes educate the so-
called hard-to-educate. And they do so in such a spectacular way.
    The question is, how do we make sure that this important asset is 
sustainable? How do we make sure that our Catholic schools meet the 
needs of parents like Patricia, meet the expectations of some of our 
educational leaders like Ben. And one way is for the Federal

[[Page 449]]

Government to provide opportunity scholarships for parents, so that they 
can redeem that scholarship at a school of their choice.

    We've got such a program like that here in Washington, DC. It's been 
a very successful program, and Congress needs to make sure it gets fully 
funded. If any Congressman doubts the utility of a program, all they've 
got to do is speak to Wendy Cunningham, whose daughter takes advantage 
of this special funding for people, that enables her to say, ``My school 
isn't meeting the needs, and therefore, I'd like to make another 
choice.'' A parental choice is a very important part of educational 
excellence. And one way to make sure that that's the case is not only to 
fully fund the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship but to provide these kinds 
of scholarships for school systems outside of Washington.

    For example, we've just heard from Margaret Dames, who has got a 
marvelous school program in Bridgeport, Connecticut. And it seems like 
it makes sense to me for a parent in Bridgeport to be able to have the 
same kind of opportunity that a parent here in Washington, DC, has. 
Congress needs to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act as well. We 
want all schools to be excellent. We want every school, public or 
parochial, to meet expectations and to give our children the skill sets 
necessary to realize the great promise of the country.

    One thing is for certain, if you're interested in educational 
excellence, you can look at the Catholic schools in the United States of 
America, because they provide it, and for that, this country is very 
grateful.

    Thank you all for coming, appreciate your time.

Note: The President spoke at 1:45 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, 
superintendent of Catholic schools, Archdiocese of Washington, DC; Ben 
Ketchum, assistant principal, St. Ann's Academy; and Margaret A. Dames, 
superintendent of schools and director of the Office for Education, 
Diocese of Bridgeport, CT.