The No Child Left Behind Act - the President's blueprint for fundamental education reform - is a huge step in the right direction for Americans who believe Big Government is not the solution to the problems with our education system.  We have already seen that funding more bureaucracy is not the answer.

For more than 30 years, Washington has spent more than $300 billion on public education.  Yet there is still a huge disparity in educational achievement between disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers.  For the first time in years, we're finally insisting on results.

When I was Chairman of the House Education & the Workforce Committee, I worked to craft an education bill that reflected the principles of accountability, local control, funding for what works, and expanded parental options.  And our efforts have paid off.

In January 2002, President Bush traveled to the Eighth District to sign this historic legislation into law.  We have now given more control and flexibility to local and state governments in the use of federal education funds, instead of relying on Washington bureaucrats to make decisions about our children's education.  This is the first step toward closing the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their peers.  But education reform does not end here; it begins here.

We must continue to expand school choice options for parents with children in underachieving schools.  And we must inject more resources into reading and teacher quality programs to ensure the stability of our public education system in the future.

As you can see, more work lies ahead as we aim to leave no child behind.  But we're off to a great start.

For more information on what No Child Left Behind means for you and your family, visit this special page of Frequently Asked Questions, courtesy of the House Education & the Workforce Committee.  Viewing this comprehensive document requires special software, available here.  Another great source for information about the new education reform law is the official No Child Left Behind website.