Kerry Education Plan Will Strengthen Our Schools and Extend Opportunity

• Published in: U.S. Newswire p. 1
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington U.S. Newswire 16.07.2004
• Subjects: Bush, George; Edwards, John; Kerry, John F

WASHINGTON, July 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Addressing the 2004 American Federation of Teachers National Convention, Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry Friday highlighted his plan to build a stronger America by strengthening our commitment to education and giving every child the opportunity to succeed. Kerry's plan will put new resources into our schools and take the next steps to finish the job of education reform, so that more students receive the education they need to get good jobs and get ahead in life. Kerry will fully fund NCLB and offer a new bargain for America's children and teachers. His plan will recruit teachers for high-need schools and for shortage subject areas like math and science. It will also offer teachers professional support, like mentoring programs and parental involvement initiatives. In return, Kerry will ask school districts to implement new tests for teachers, establish new systems that reward teachers for excellence in the classroom and ensure fast, fair procedures for improving or replacing teachers who do not perform. John Kerry and John Edwards believe that reform without resources is a waste of money, and resources without reform is a waste of time. This president committed to resources and reforms in No Child Left Behind, but he has fallen $27 billion short and implemented the law with a top-down, Washington-knows-best attitude that hurts students. John Kerry and John Edwards will put new resources into our schools and make reform work by fully funding No Child Left Behind, creating a new bargain with America's teachers, and beginning a national campaign to raise high school graduation rates.