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Education is key to our children's success and our economic success as a nation. We need to act to make sure that every child has access to a
The key components of the president's plan included helping our most disadvantaged students by setting high standards, requiring testing, focusing on reading and allowing students to transfer to higher-performing public or private schools using Title I monies. Parents have more information on their local schools' success and the educational options available to their children. Schools also have expanded freedom to use federal dollars in ways that best improve the educational environment of their students. These programs can include professional development for teachers and developing effective teaching practices in the classroom including those for science and math education.
The President also recognized that a key component of student learning is a safe As Chairman of the Science Subcommittee on Research, I believed that there
was much room for improvement in math and science education. The medical, telecom, computer and other technology that sustains the great American economy draws much of its success from math
and science research. We need more and better students to maintain that edge. We need the kind of education that will equip today's students to meet the challenges of the new
technological era. Science and math education is also critical to our national security - today's engineering students will be designing tomorrow's military equipment; today's biology students will be developing protection from biological weapons; and today's computer science students will
be securing our computer and networking infrastructure against cyberattacks.
Our current K-12 school system is often woefully ineffective at preparing students to pursue math and science majors. My Subcommittee on Research in particular, worked extensively at improving it. The National Mathematics and Science Partnerships Act (H.R. 1858), a bill I cosponsored, authorized the National Science Foundation to build partnerships for
improved cooperation between high schools and universities so students are better prepared for college math and science curriculum.
We're going to have to find ways to ignite our students' enthusiasm for math and science. What many students need is more and better exposure to the rich career opportunities offered in math, science and engineering. In too many cases, I think students get turned off to math and science in high school and end up with little understanding of what scientists and engineers do. It's a situation that we need to change, because if we don't, it will jeopardize the strength of our economy and even our national security. More Information: For more on my thoughts and comments on education, please see my:
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quality education that gives them a good start in life.
I firmly believe that we must do more to better educate all of our children, that is why I supported President Bush on H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act.
I believe education should primarily be a local and state issue. However, I believe that the federal government can play a useful role by cutting red-tape and providing local educators, officials and parents with the federal funding and let them decide how to best spend it as well as encouraging academic standards and school accountability. The No Child Left Behind Act focuses on giving local schools the responsibility, authority and support to design flexible and innovative programs to improve student performance and teacher quality. Successful programs will be rewarded with federal dollars while parents with students in persistently low-performing schools will be given a choice.
environment. His program emphasizes this need and empowers parents, teachers and schools to work together to improve school safety for all students.
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