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      Past Winners of George Shefield Memorial Scholarship                                                     

 

President Bush Signs Landmark Education Reforms into Law Bipartisan Effort Reaps Historic Freedom and Flexibility for America's Schools Provides the most sweeping reform of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act since it was enacted in 1965 byturning federal spending on schools into a federal investment in improved student performance Redefines the federal role in K-12 education by requiring all states to set high standards of achievement and create a system of accountability to measure results Insists that states set high standards for achievement in reading and math - the building blocks of all learning - and test every child in grades 3 through 8 to ensure that students are making progress   Greater Flexibility and Local Control Offers school districts powerful tools to provide the best possible education to all children - especially those most in need - by cutting federal red tape, reducing the number of federal education programs, and creating larger more flexible programs that place decision-making at the local level where it belongs Trusts local parents, educators and school boards to make the best decisions for their children Frees local school districts to spend up to half their federal education dollars however they see fit   Expanded Options and Choice for Parents Empowers parents by providing unprecedented federal support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds who are trapped in low-performing schools Students in failing schools may transfer to higher-performing public schools or get help such as tutoring Students in persistently dangerous schools may transfer to safer public schools Informs parents by requiring states to provide annual report cards of school performance and statewide progress Requirement arms parents with information about the quality of their children's schools, the qualifications of teachers, and their children's progress in key subjects Emphasis on Teaching Methods that Work Supports reading instruction based upon research-based methods that work to ensure that every child in public schools reads at or above grade level by third grade Strengthens teacher quality for public schools in by investing in training and retention of high-quality teachers The Leave No Child Behind Act Provides Resources to Support the Reforms: Increases federal education funding under the ESEA to more than $22.1 billion for America's elementary and secondary schools - a 27 percent increase over last year, and a 49 percent increase over 2000 levels Increases federal funding to an estimated $10.4 billion for the Title I program to help disadvantaged students succeed - an 18 percent increase over last year, and a 30 percent increase over 2000 levels Provides nearly $3 billion in federal funding to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and principals Boosts funding for reading programs to nearly $1 billion so every child in America learns to read Provides an estimated $200 million for charter schools to expand parental choice and free children trapped in persistently failing schools Note: Funding figures are U.S. Department of Education estimates Other figures include data from the Department's National Center for Education Statistics at www.nces.ed.gov. For more U.S. Department of Education information please visit www.ed.gov/nclb   A Quality Teacher in Every Classroom President 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: Providing State Grants to Recruit and Train Teachers: A $2.85 billion flexible grant program, funded in FY2002, will provide states with resources to recruit and train teachers and principals. This represents an increase of 35 percent over FY2001 levels, and the President’s FY2003 budget sustains this level of funding. Recruiting High-Quality Individuals to Become Teachers: President Bush proposes record level support for programs that provide innovative ways to recruit new teachers into the teaching profession, including the Troops to Teachers program, Transition to Teaching Program, and Teach for America. Expanding Programs to Train Teachers in Specific Subject Areas: President Bush proposes to strengthen programs to help train teachers in specific areas of need, including early childhood education, reading instruction, bilingual education, special education, math and science, history, and technology. Implementing the Teacher Protection Act: This new law ensures that teachers, principals, and other school professionals can undertake reasonable actions to maintain order and discipline in the classroom without fear of litigation. Creating a New Teacher Tax Deduction: The President’s FY2003 budget calls for a new teacher tax deduction to help teachers defray out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $400. The cost of this initiative is $16 million in FY2004 and $577 million over the first five years. Providing Expanded Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers: President Bush’s plan will expand student loan forgiveness up to $17,500 for math, science and special education teachers who commit to teach in high-need schools for five years. The total cost of this initiative is $45 million in FY2003 and $112 million over five years.