Bush visit [to Knoxville] plans to show what schools can do

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | RICHARD POWELSON

[The Raven]

WASHINGTON - Education Secretary Rod Paige said Tuesday that President Bush's visit to a Knoxville school with special challenges that still meets federal achievement goals will show other parts of the country what is possible.

"We like to go to schools that make the point that ... with a large number at low socio-economic levels ... and a very diverse community, they still are able to achieve and meet adequate yearly progress as required by the law," Paige said in an interview with the News Sentinel.

Paige will accompany Bush this week to East Tennessee.

"We found such a school in Knoxville (West View Elementary) and we are going to have a good time going there and pointing out the success of that school," Paige said.

Thursday marks exactly two years since Bush signed into law the "No Child Left Behind" act, which provides federal funds for states, sets goals for schools' progress and identifies schools not meeting the goals.

The Tennessee Education Association, with about 52,000 members in teaching or support positions, said it was not surprised if one or more Knoxville schools was meeting the federal law.

But the law is too rigid in setting achievement goals for schools with students knowing little English or facing other special needs, the group said.

"If this law remains as it is, and the rules remain as they are, the vast majority of schools in the country will be (federally) identified as in need of improvement, Al Mance, TEA's executive director, said.

The federal law also is underfunded, Mance said. Tennessee, for example, was supposed to receive $484 million a year for full funding, he said, but got $185.7 million last fiscal year.

Paige said critics' claims of underfunding are false, noting that federal funding nationally to elementary and secondary schools in high-poverty areas is up 41 percent since Bush took office and reading excellence funding has tripled to $900 million.

The secretary recalled President John F. Kennedy's realized goal for the 1960s of sending Americans to the moon and back. But Bush's goal to educate "all children" is tougher, he said.

While both big goals are very complex, Paige said, "sending a person to the moon and getting them back is a piece of cake compared to the difficulties we have with this (education) issue. But it is something that we can and we must and we will do."