Bush Education Initiatives | 04 March 2002 |
A Quality Teacher in Every ClassroomPresident Bush believes that quality teachers are the cornerstone of a good education. Speaking at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota, President Bush outlined his initiative to provide a quality teacher in every classroom in America. Using the new provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act in conjunction with his budget request, the federal government will invest more than $4 billion in 2002 alone to improve teacher quality and strengthen teacher recruitment throughout America. Background on the President��s Commitment to Preparing Tomorrow��s Teachers As a cornerstone of education reform, the historic No Child Left Behind Act that President Bush signed into law in January 2002, requires that by the end of the 2005-2006 school year there be a ��highly qualified�� teacher in every classroom. Over the next decade, school districts will need to hire 2.2 million additional teachers. But states and school districts face the challenge of attracting a greater quantity of people to the teaching profession while also ensuring teacher quality. A survey by the Department of Education found that fewer than 36 percent of current teachers feel ��very well prepared�� to implement curriculum and performance standards, and less than 20 percent feel prepared to meet the needs of diverse students or those with limited English proficiency. While states and educational organizations have begun to pursue different ways to recruit and train high quality individuals to become teachers, more help is needed. Through both the No Child Left Behind Act and President Bush��s budget, states and local school districts will have multiple tools to help them meet new teacher quality requirements. Altogether, programs that are part of the President��s commitment to teacher quality will provide states and districts with more than $4 billion in federal funds in 2002 alone. Key parts of the President��s efforts to ensure a quality teacher in every classroom include:
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