U.S. Chamber Launches New Coalition to Promote No Child Left Behind

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The United States Chamber of Commerce has launched a broad-based business coalition in conjunction with the Business Roundtable to sustain and improve No Child Left Behind (NCLB) during its anticipated reauthorization in 2007.

"Improving our public education system is a top concern for American businesses," said Arthur Rothkopf, Chamber senior vice president. "NCLB is an important tool to help us reach our goal of keeping all students on track each year so they can graduate high school ready for college and the workplace."

The coalition of business and association leaders strongly supports the core principles included in the law and will urge federal lawmakers to strengthen it next year. Specific priorities for the new coalition are still being set.

The business community launched a similar effort in 2001 to promote the initial passage of NCLB. Since being signed into law in 2002, NCLB has made progress toward achieving increased accountability, closing the achievement gap, improving teacher quality, and reaching 100 percent student proficiency in reading and math, according to the Chamber.

"We have to raise our expectations of the K-12 education system in order to create a more competitive American economy," said Jacque Johnson, executive director of Education and Workforce Development at the Chamber. "Business leaders are dedicated to ensuring that our schools today are academically preparing the workforce for tomorrow."

The Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

www.uschamber.com

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