WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a telephone poll conducted last week, Hispanic parents again showed overwhelming support for key elements of President George W. Bush’s education reform legislation. The President’s reform bill, the No Child Left Behind Act (H.R. 1), was approved by the House on May 23^rd by a bipartisan vote of 384-45. This poll follows a recent survey by the Latino Coalition that showed similar support for the President’s education agenda.

House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) today welcomed the poll of 1,000 parents - conducted in the beginning of August - which shows education is a top priority among the country’s largest minority group. The telephone poll, conducted by Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates, found significant support for President Bush and his specific education proposals, including school choice for students in failing public schools, allowing local school districts more flexibility in how they spend federal tax dollars, and requiring that states using federal education dollars prove that they are getting results for students of all races and income levels and that achievement gaps are closing between disadvantaged students and their peers.

According to the survey, 92 percent of respondents approved of annual reporting of results for grades 3-8; 80 percent support local flexibility, and 86 percent agree with allowing public school choice. In addition, 84 percent support consolidating or eliminating redundant federal programs in the Education Department.

In the survey, initially 50 percent of respondents agreed with the Bush education plan. But after being read the main components of his education agenda and its efforts to close the achievement gap between Hispanics and their peers, that number jumped to 89 percent. According to a National Education Goal Panel report released earlier this year, only two states have successfully reduced the reading achievement gap between white students and Hispanic students in recent years. On average, white students scored 29 points ahead of Hispanics on standardized reading tests. The President’s legislation is aimed at closing such gaps and improving education for all students.

The House and Senate have begun the process of putting the finishing touches on the President’s education plan. The House plan, introduced by Boehner, targets resources to disadvantaged students and requires that states using federal education dollars prove that they are getting results for students of all races and income levels. Furthermore, the bill provides immediate public school choice (including charter schools) to parents with children in failing public schools. The Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates survey shows strong support in the Hispanic community for the President’s reforms.

In June, the Education & the Workforce panel became the first congressional committee to launch a Spanish-language website, a Spanish version of its official No Child Left Behind education site (http://edworkforce.house.gov/spanish). The site explains the President’s education reform proposals, including the President’s initiative to promote English fluency and parental choice among students who are limited English proficient.

###