News from the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
John Boehner, Chairman

Education Committee Chairman Boehner
Gives GOP Radio Address
‘We Face No Mission More Important Than Education Reform’

WASHINGTON – Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), the new chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, gave the Republican radio address today calling on Congress to work with the new Bush Administration and citing education reform as the top issue for the 107^th Congress.

"We open a new chapter in our nation’s history today," Boehner said. "President Bush is challenging us to improve education and ensure that no child in America is left behind. I believe we face no mission more important than education reform.

"Even as our economy soared, student performance didn’t -- particularly among the most vulnerable in our society. Despite nearly a decade of uninterrupted prosperity in America, the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their peers has grown wider in key subject areas like reading. The widening of the education gap between students rich and poor, Anglo and minority, is a national emergency -- and like all national emergencies, it demands a united response. Democrat, Republican, and independent alike, we share the responsibility for crafting solutions that will serve the next generation of students."

In his remarks, Boehner cited the success then-Gov. Bush and the Texas Legislature had with reforming education standards. Texas defied the national trend and succeeded in narrowing the achievement gap among its students by raising expectations for student performance and making sure educators and parents had the flexibility to implement teaching methods that work.

In a recent analysis, African-American and Hispanic eighth-graders in Texas ranked first and second in the nation in writing, and African-American fourth-graders in Texas ranked first in the nation in math, Boehner reported.

"President Bush is challenging the nation to follow the Texas example," Boehner said. "Last fall, he outlined a plan that starts with raising expectations and asking that states begin measuring student performance annually. In return, it would give states and communities the flexibility they need, letting them work with parents to tailor their programs to suit the unique needs of their students."

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Seize the Moment to Improve America’s Schools

GOP National Radio Address -- January 20, 2001

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
Chairman, House Education and the Workforce Committee

This is Congressman John Boehner of West Chester, Ohio. I represent the 8^th District of Ohio and chair the education committee in the U.S. House.

As you know, we open a new chapter in our nation’s history today. We wish President Clinton and his family the best as he leaves office, and we welcome President Bush and his family as they settle into the White House.

Throughout history, presidents have begun their terms by urging Americans to unite behind a common goal, and Americans have never failed to answer the call. President Kennedy challenged us to work together to put an American on the moon. President Reagan challenged us to work together to stand tall against communism. President Clinton challenged us to work together to balance the budget.

Now President Bush is challenging us to improve education and ensure that no child in America is left behind.

As we begin a new American century, we face no mission more important than education reform. The 1990s were a time of dramatic economic growth. But even as our economy soared, student performance didn’t -- particularly among the most vulnerable in our society. Despite nearly a decade of uninterrupted prosperity in America, the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their peers has grown wider in key subject areas like reading. According to a recent study, 68 percent of fourth graders in our nation's poorest schools can’t read.

The widening of the education gap between students rich and poor, Anglo and minority, is a national emergency -- and like all national emergencies, it demands a united response. Democrat, Republican, and independent alike, we share the responsibility for crafting solutions that will serve the next generation of students.

Improving education across America won’t be easy, but we have a roadmap: the Texas education experience. Under then-Governor Bush, Texas defied the national trend and succeeded in narrowing the achievement gap among its students. They did it by raising expectations for student performance and making sure educators and parents had the flexibility to implement teaching methods that work. In a recent analysis, African-American and Hispanic eighth-graders in Texas ranked first and second in the nation in writing, and African-American fourth graders in Texas ranked first in the nation in math. (Source: National Assessment of Education Progress)

Credit for the Lone Star State’s success doesn’t just belong to George W. Bush. It belongs to legislators in Texas -- Democrat and Republican alike -- who put aside their personal agendas and worked to improve education. It belongs to teachers and officials like Houston school superintendent Rod Paige, now set to become our next Secretary of Education, who were willing to challenge the status quo and raise expectations. It belongs to parents who have demanded results from their schools because they know their children can meet high academic standards and deserve a quality education.

President Bush is challenging the nation to follow the Texas example. Shortly before Christmas, he invited leaders from both parties to Austin to discuss prospects for early action this year on education. Democrats and Republicans came away impressed with his commitment to ensuring that every child learns.

We’re hopeful that the first seeds of consensus were sown at that meeting. Last fall President Bush outlined a plan that starts with raising expectations and asking that states begin measuring student performance annually. In return, it would give states and communities the flexibility they need, letting them work with parents to tailor their programs to suit the unique needs of their students. The President and First Lady Laura Bush -- a teacher herself -- have also called for a "Reading First" initiative aimed at ensuring that every American child reads by the third grade.

I believe such a plan can earn bipartisan support in Congress and become law this year, and I hope to work closely with my colleague, Congressman George Miller of California, to help make that happen. We’ll also have the opportunity for a national dialogue on other vital education issues, such as how to give the parents of students in crumbling, failing schools new options that will give their children new hope.

The foundation of every nation is the education of its youth. We should seize this moment in our history to work with our new president to ensure that every child has the chance to learn.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

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