There is no doubt that a good, high quality education is the foundation for success. But a good education doesn’t start in Washington – it starts at home. Simply put, the education of our children is a dual mission. It is about empowering parents and teachers to provide our students with the best education possible and giving them access to the tools to teach the children in their community with limited involvement from bureaucrats in Washington, DC.

Part of making sure those tools are available starts with ensuring schools have the funding they need to do their job -- something sorely missing in rural America. A study by the National Center for Educational Statistics found that while 46 percent of America's public schools serve rural areas, they receive only 22 percent of the nation's education funds. In 2001, we passed the No Child Left Behind Act, which authorized $300 million for a rural initiative that is designed to address the special education needs in rural America. The funding can then be used for teacher recruitment, salaries, training, technology, and for academic enrichment programs. This will help level the playing field and allow schools to make changes and improve the quality of life and learning for its students and teachers.

It is our job to be sure all our children get a place at life's starting line. I am hopeful we can build on these successes. Only then will our children have the educational foundation they need to meet the challenges and opportunities of the new economy.