Department of Education . . .
Secretary of
Education
President Bush's Education Reform Initiatives
Secretary
of Education is implementing the president's
initiatives.
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. 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. While states and educational organizations have begun
to pursue different ways to recruit and train highly qualified
individuals to become teachers, more help is needed. Key parts of
the President's efforts to ensure a quality teacher in every
classroom include:
- Providing State Grants to Recruit and Train Teachers.
- Recruiting Highly Qualified Individuals to Become Teachers.
- Expanding Programs to Train Teachers in Specific Subject
Areas.
- Implementing the Teacher Protection Act.
- Creating a New Teacher Tax Deduction.
- Providing Expanded Student Loan Forgiveness for
Teachers.
