U.S. Chamber Praises President's Focus on Strengthening Education for America's Students

Calls a Strong Education Vital for a Prepared Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Arthur Rothkopf issued the following statement on President Bush's proposal to improve education by strengthening and reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB):

"The Chamber applauds the president's strong support for the prompt reauthorization of NCLB. This legislation has raised standards in public schools and is holding schools accountable for results. Students are doing better in reading and math and minority students are closing the achievement gap.

"We are pleased that the president included many of our recommendations in his plan to strengthen NCLB, including alternative ways to find and retain qualified teachers and focusing on school restructuring. The Chamber believes new resources are needed to help improve high school accountability by raising academic standards. We also believe it is crucial that parents be given more information about the choices they can make for their child's education.

"The Chamber's goal is to make sure that all students in America graduate high school academically prepared for a postsecondary education and the workforce. This includes placing a greater emphasis on academic success in the areas of math and science. Accomplishing this goal is vital to assuring a hopeful and fruitful life to all our young people as well as a competitive America in the global marketplace.

"The Chamber looks forward to working with the administration and members of Congress towards a swift renewal and strengthening of NCLB."

The U.S. 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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07-20