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Radio Address by the President to the Nation, 01-03-03
WhiteHouse.gov ^ | 01-03-03 | George W. Bush

Posted on 01/03/2004 8:32:02 AM PST by Salvation

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 3, 2004

President's Radio Address

     listenAudio

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Two years ago this month, I signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, the most important reform of public education in a generation.

In that landmark law, we made our expectations clear: every child in America will learn to read, write, add and subtract at grade level. Schools are now required to test children regularly to make sure students are learning and that schools are teaching well.

And when schools do not show progress toward high standards, we're giving parents better options, including tutoring for their children, or a transfer to a better public school. Above all, the No Child Left Behind Act required a change in attitude from the educators and public officials responsible for our schools.

We will no longer write off some children as hopeless. We will no longer accept or excuse schools that do not effectively teach the basics. We will insist on high standards and accountability because we believe that every school should teach and every child can learn.

For the past 24 months, schools and state governments have been putting the new reforms into action. All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have drawn up plans to hold every public school accountable for student achievement. We're measuring results. We're giving teachers the information they need to improve instruction, and giving parents new options to help their children when schools do not measure up.

We have recently received test results that show America's children are making progress. In 2003, math scores for fourth graders nationwide were nine points higher than in 2000. Math scores for eighth graders improved by five points. And a higher percentage of fourth graders tested at or above their grade level in reading.

To mark the anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act, I will travel this coming week to schools in St. Louis, Missouri and Knoxville, Tennessee. Children at these schools once struggled, but in recent years, they have risen to meet our new standards. Their example shows that high expectations, a commitment to measuring achievement and a belief in every child can change lives and turn schools around.

Some critics have objected to these reforms because they believe our expectations are too high, or that it is unfair to hold all students to the same standards regardless of background, or that we're punishing schools that are not making progress. But the time for excuses has passed. Our reforms insist on high standards because we know every child can learn. Our reforms call for testing because the worst discrimination is to ignore a school's failure to teach every child. And our reforms identify underperforming schools because we need to direct our help to the schools that need it most.

In 2003, we provided $234 million to assist the lowest performing schools that need the most improvement. In 2004, we plan to more than double that amount. We have increased federal funding for elementary and high school education from about $25 billion in 2001, to more than $33 billion in 2003, an increase of about 36 percent, and the highest level ever.

We've committed $1.8 billion in grants to help train tens of thousands of teachers to use effective reading instruction methods and materials. We expect schools to do their job, and we're helping them to do their job. So there's no excuse for failure. When we set a high standard, we are showing our belief in the capacities of every child. And when we prepare them to meet a high standard, we're giving them a better chance in life. High expectations set children on a path to success. I'm pleased to report that the No Child Left Behind Act is helping put more of America's children on that path, so they succeed in school and in life.

Thank you for listening.

END


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: billions; bush43; dollars; education; grants; nclb; nochildleftbehind; progress; radioaddress; schools; teachers; thankyouforlistening; transcript; underperforming
For your infomation. All comments welcomed.
1 posted on 01/03/2004 8:32:03 AM PST by Salvation
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To: All
Rank Location Receipts Donors/Avg Freepers/Avg Monthlies
19 Arkansas 110.00
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Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

2 posted on 01/03/2004 8:32:41 AM PST by Support Free Republic (Freepers post from sun to sun, but a fundraiser bot's work is never done.)
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To: nicmarlo; bonesmccoy; cactusSharp; Dog Gone; Howlin; rfmad; Wphile; rintense; ladyinred; ...
Radio Address Ping!

Please notify me by Freepmail if you would like to be added to or removed from the Radio Address Ping List.

3 posted on 01/03/2004 8:32:58 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
I was on vacation during the last two addresses. Hope someone stepped up to the plate and posted them.

Happy New Year everyone.

(Hope all of you had a blessed Christmas also!)

Salvation
4 posted on 01/03/2004 8:34:06 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All; JohnHuang2
Bush Decries Critics of New Education Law (Saturday Morning Radio Address)
5 posted on 01/03/2004 8:37:19 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation


6 posted on 01/03/2004 8:50:02 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (Hillary is a TRAITOR !!: http://Richard.Meek.home.comcast.net/HitlerTraitor6.JPG)
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To: Salvation
Thank you, Salvation.

Happy, and blessed, New Year to you, too. (^:

7 posted on 01/03/2004 10:26:41 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ("You have to be proud of your army. They are fighters for freedom." ~ A free Iraqi to America, 12/03)
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To: Salvation
We have increased federal funding for elementary and high school education from about $25 billion in 2001, to more than $33 billion in 2003, an increase of about 36 percent, and the highest level ever.

Lyndon Johnson would be proud.

8 posted on 01/03/2004 10:44:39 AM PST by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: Salvation
GWB Is The Man!
9 posted on 01/03/2004 11:13:59 AM PST by blackie
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To: Willie Green
Let's hope that the money will be spent more wisely than it was is LBJ's day.
10 posted on 01/03/2004 8:49:24 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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