Senator Kennedy Responds To Bush On NCLB

January 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to President Bush’s remarks on the No Child Left Behind Act made today at the Greeley Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of the enactment of the law.

“There are few responsibilities more important for Congress than to strengthen, support, and modernize our public schools to give every child in America a fighting chance in today’s changing economy. It’s about opportunity for our citizens. It’s about the strength of our nation’s economy and our democracy.

We’ve learned a lot over the past six years about what works and what doesn’t work with the No Child Left Behind Act. We can’t abandon the law’s focus on helping every one of our students compete and win in the global economy. But it’s clear that the law still needs major changes to bring out the best in all children.

For many, No Child Left Behind has become a slogan for what the White House has done wrong instead of what schools can do right. Time and time again, the Bush Administration has failed to stand behind the promise made to children and their families to provide additional resources schools desperately need to help all students succeed.

In this year’s reauthorization, we have a responsibility to chart a new course for improving our public schools, to fix what hasn’t worked under the No Child Left Behind Act, and to address new challenges in our education system. We owe it to children, parents, and schools to get it done this year and to get it right.”

Source: Senator Ted Kennedy

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