SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY EDUCATION

May 11, 2004
Press Release

MAY 11, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY -
EDUCATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued "The Bush Administration Misstatement of the Day" on education.

Speaking today to students, teachers and parents at Butterfield Junior High School in Van Buren, Arkansas, President Bush touted the No Child Left Behind law. He said:

"Under the new law, when we discover that children are falling behind -- that are not meeting standards, those schools get extra help, extra money to make sure that people are brought up to the standards." (AP, 5/11/04)
But in his FY'05 budget, President Bush fails to offer the "extra help" and "extra money" that schools need to meet the standards of the No Child Left Behind law. An analysis by the Democratic staff of the Education and the Workforce Committee finds:
President Bush shortchanges his own No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) by $9.4 billion-including $7.2 billion for Title I. The President breaks his promise to provide $20.5 billion for Title I under NCLB. His Budget will deny nearly 5 million disadvantaged children critical education services, such as extra help to become proficient in reading and math. Since NCLB was signed into law President Bush has underfunded the law by $26.5 billion or 21.7 percent.