Remarks of Secretary Paige, Vandenberg Elementary School, Southfield, MI
FOR RELEASE:
May 6, 2002
Thank you, Sharalene. It's an honor to be here—the 5th stop in our No Child Left Behind Tour of America.
We started in Albuquerque. Went to Atlanta, then DC and Las Vegas. Later this week, we're headed to Wisconsin. And I'm proud that President Bush is joining us—and not just because I get to hitch a ride on his much bigger airplane! I am proud because President Bush vowed to fundamentally change the structure of our education system, so every child learns and no child is left behind. And he has kept his promise.
Because he kept his promise, it's a new day in education for America. Our nation has been called to commit itself to a bold goal—the goal of creating a system that insists on accountability and results, teacher quality, and reading programs that work. A system where taxpayers know what they're getting for their money—and parents know if their children are learning.
And we are making good progress:
All the states and territories that had some compliance catching up to do are in compliance or committed to a time certain to do so. Applications for Reading First grants are coming in from schools eager to help their students learn this critical skill. Our Reading Leadership Academies are teaching teachers research-based methods that are proven to work in their classrooms. I am working with policymakers and key education leaders nationwide to help ensure swift and successful implementation of our new education reforms in their states and communities. And we are empowering parents with information about what these new reforms mean for them and for their children.
As I said a moment ago, it's a new day. And we owe it to the bipartisan work of Congress and to our President—President Bush—who keeps his promises.
But as someone who has worked with him on education reforms for more than seven years, the fact that he did what he said he would do comes as no surprise.
Please welcome the President of the United States.
Back to Top
Return to Speeches
| 
Official U.S. Department of Education web site.