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Letter from the Secretary

In 1965, Congress created a role for the federal government in education. Among other things, that role committed the government to helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive a quality education and thus gain access to a bright future.

While states and districts still have the lion's share of responsibility for educating our children, we are working with the Congress to ensure that the federal role advances the kind of reform that improves our educational system. They plan to make great changes in our practices and in the way we think about government and schools. We must make sure that the federal government really does help the students who face the biggest challenges. We can do our part in Washington, but improvement in your local schools starts with you.

No one cares more about your child's future than you do, and no one is better positioned to hold schools accountable for performance than you are. You have a right to know whether your child is really learning at school, and your state and your school district should make sure you have that information. If your child is not making adequate progress in school, you can and must ask why. A good teacher will be happy to answer your questions. Do your part and ask.

/s/
Rod Paige

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Last updated—December 17, 2004 (jer)