As part of his Back to School, Moving Forward tour, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige visited Orlando, Fla., today to talk with parents, educators and community leaders about the bold education reforms on the horizon for all of America's schools. During his visit, he released two new Education Department publications created to speak to educators and community and business leaders about the role they can play in making President Bush's education reform goals a reality in the local schools. The publications are the last in a three-part series being distributed by the department as part of their annual back-to-school activities.

Early in the day, Paige spoke with local civic and business leaders at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Florida State Chamber of Commerce and their World Class Schools Foundation. At the meeting, Paige introduced a publication that speaks directly to community leaders about how they can and should help to build accountability systems that will strengthen their local schools so they can prepare local children to be our future business and civic leaders.

During a tour of Lancaster Elementary School-a public school campus that has recently climbed from a "D"-rated to an "A"-rated school, according to the State of Florida-Secretary Paige spoke to parents and teachers about how high standards and annual assessments of student achievement can improve student performance. While at the school, Paige introduced the third and final publication describing opportunities for educators to improve our schools through greater accountability and a focus on doing what works.

In a foreword to the publications President Bush writes, "Because I believe every child can learn, I intend to ensure that every child does learn. My Administration put forward a plan called No Child Left Behind based on four principles: accountability for results; local control and flexibility; expanded parental choice; and effective and successful programs. We are pursuing these principles, because too many of our schools fail to help every child to learn."

In the introduction in the two publications Paige writes: "At the heart of the President's plan is a promise to raise standards for all children. Since we cannot know if we are meeting those standards unless we measure performance, President Bush is committed to annual assessments of student learning in the basic subjects of reading and math. The information from these tests will allow us to identify and reward schools that are making progress and to intervene in schools that are not. Finally, President Bush is committed to doing what works, especially when it comes to teaching young children how to read. In sum, this plan—in partnership with parents, communities, school leadership and classroom teachers —will ensure that every child in America receives a great education and that no child is left behind."

Legislation to implement the president's education reform plan is presently pending in a House-Senate conference committee. Last week President Bush and Secretary Paige kicked off the Back to School, Moving Forward tour at an elementary school in Albuquerque, N.M., where they released the first Back to School, Moving Forward publication, What No Child Left Behind Means for America's Families. The tour will continue with visits to Atlanta; Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; Long Beach, Calif.; Nashville, Tenn.; Portland Ore.; Raleigh, N.C.; and San Diego and will conclude on Sept. 7.

All three publications are available on-line at http://www.ed.gov/inits/backtoschool/ or by calling toll-free, 1-877-4ED-PUBS.

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