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| Wilson touts education bill benefits for Hispanic Students in New Mexico |
January 09, 2002 |
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Albuquerque, NM-Congresswoman Heather Wilson this week is joining students, parents, and teachers throughout Albuquerque to celebrate education reform signed this week by President Bush. Just yesterday President Bush signed into law the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," ushering in sweeping education reforms that will hold schools accountable for results, give local school districts greater flexibility and control, give parents expanded choices, and emphasize teaching methods that work.
“Education has always been my personal passion, and this education reform bill has been sorely needed. This is a truly important day for New Mexico’s schools,” says Congresswoman Wilson.
“No Child Left Behind” improves Bilingual Education to help limited English proficient students learn English and meet the same high academic standards of other students. The legislation also creates strong accountability systems for bilingual education programs, requiring states to test limited English proficient (LEP) children for reading and language arts in English after they attend school in the United States for three consecutive years. Under the new law, Migrant Education programs, which serve primarily Hispanic students, receive a $30 million increase over last year.
Early last year, Wilson partnered with Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX-15) to boost bilingual education funding. Hinojosa is chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Education Task Force. Together, Wilson and Hinojosa secured enough support to pass Hinojosa’s amendment increasing bilingual education funding.
“No Child Left Behind” empowers parents by providing an estimated $10.4 billion for the Title I program to help disadvantaged students succeed, an 18 percent increase over last year, and a 30 percent increase over 2000 levels. Under the new law, students in failing schools may transfer to higher-performing public schools or receive help such as tutoring. Students in persistently dangerous schools may transfer to safer public schools.
Based on the President`s blueprint for nationwide education reform, submitted to Congress just three days after he swore the oath of office, "No Child Left Behind" passed both Houses of Congress with an overwhelming bipartisan majority and will promote educational excellence for Hispanic public school children, public school teachers and public schools.
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