Bush & Paige Launch "Back to School, Moving Forward" Tour

(U.S. Secretary of Education begins national tour to promote accountability in schools through family, school & community activity during school visit with President Bush)

Back-to-School Tour, Publication, & Website

Today, Secretary Paige began his national tour to promote educational accountability during a school visit with President Bush.

Also today Secretary Paige announced a new publication -- "Back to School, Moving Forward: What No Child Left Behind Means for America's Families." This is the first of 3 brochures explaining what the President's education plan, "No Child Left Behind," means for parents, schools, & communities. It is available in English & Spanish at the Department's new>Back to School, Moving Forward website: http://www.ed.gov/backtoschool/

The new website, which will be updated daily during the Secretary's tour, also offers...

* the schedule of the Secretary's tour
* news about the tour, including speeches & press releases
* links to contact information about schools near you
* facts about schools.

The press release announcing the tour is below.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 15 -- President George W. Bush & U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige celebrated the first day of school at Griegos Elementary School by launching "Back to School, Moving Forward" Secretary Paige's cross-country back-to-school tour promoting accountability for our elementary & secondary schools. The president & secretary toured an elementary school with a strong record of academic improvement & spoke with students, parents, teachers & community leaders assembled to mark the students' first day of school. Secretary Paige also unveiled the first of three back-to-school publications from the Department of Education & gave copies to families at the school.

"President Bush introduced his vision for strengthening our system of education during his first days in Washington, D.C.," Paige said. "We've made great strides since then, & as students return to classrooms around the country, I will be working to make sure that our families, schools & communities are ready to pursue the far-reaching reforms that he has proposed."

Secretary Paige, Deputy Secretary of Education William Hansen & Under Secretary of Education Eugene W. Hickok will visit schools & talk with civic & business groups around the country as part of the "Back to School, Moving Forward" tour. The tour will continue with visits to: Atlanta; Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; Long Beach, Calif.; Nashville, Tenn.; Orlando, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh, N.C.; & San Diego & will conclude on Sept. 7.

As Paige & other senior education officials visit with students & teachers in classrooms throughout the nation, they will also meet with business & community leaders to discuss their roles in building an education system that holds our schools accountable for improving the performance of all students. As part of "Back to School, Moving Forward," Paige will introduce parents, schools & members of the community to three new publications from the Department of Education that explain how each group can help to bring accountability for results to our classrooms & improve student performance so that no child is left behind. The publication unveiled at Griegos Elementary School is being released today in English & in Spanish & tells parents how they can play a meaningful role in improving our nation's schools.

Accountability for results is one of the four main principles of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" plan for comprehensive education reform. The other principles for reform include local control & flexibility, expanded parental choice, & doing what works.

"As we start a new school year, it is time for us to reach out to parents, educators, & community & business leaders to engage them our plans to create a system of schools that fulfills President Bush's promise that no child will be left behind," Paige said. "President Bush & I know that change must take place at the local level, & we look to families, schools & communities to bring about that change through high standards, annual measurement & accountability for results. As our children return to school to capture the promise of new opportunities to learn & grow, we must embrace these simple principles for reform."

Copies of the new "Back to School, Moving Forward" publications for families, schools & communities & information regarding "Back to School, Moving Forward" activities will be posted on the Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov/backtoschool/.