RICHLAND, Miss. (March 22) - U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today joined U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, students, parents, and business and civic leaders for an education rally where he celebrated President Bush's commitment to leaving no child behind and the president's proposed investments in education for Mississippi's students.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which President Bush signed in January, states and school districts will develop strong systems of accountability based upon student performance. The new law also gives those states and school districts increased local control and flexibility, removing federal red tape and bureaucracy and putting decision-making in the hands of those at the local and state levels. Parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will have options under the new law to participate in public school choice programs or obtain supplemental services such as tutoring. Also, teachers around the country will be encouraged to use teaching methods based upon scientific research that demonstrates that they work.

"Following the principles of this new law, all of us, working together, will create a new culture of achievement," Secretary Paige told the parents, teachers, students and others at the rally. "Living the principles of the law, we Americans can create a culture in this country where parents have more choices, teachers have more resources, districts have more flexibility, everyone has more information, and—most important—no child is left behind."

He also called on Mississippians to get involved in strengthening their schools.

"This is your state. This is your future. Do something about it. It does not matter how young or old you are," Paige said. "I am from this state — and I know what kind of energy and heart Mississippians have.

"I am asking each of you to get involved in education reform. The adults here can run for school board, tutor a child in reading, start a charter school, or make sure local elementary schools are using good curriculum. I hope some of the children here will think about becoming teachers. We all have a role to play."

Secretary Paige also discussed how Mississippi's children will benefit from President Bush's proposed budget.

Mississippi would receive $573 million under the President's fiscal year 2003 budget request of $56.5 billion for the Department of Education, including for the department a record high $50.3 billion for discretionary programs, continuing his commitment to improve student achievement and to leave no child behind.

The $573 million for Mississippi would represent a boost of $8 million from the current level of federal education grants to the state.

"President Bush's budget demonstrates his continued commitment to meeting the needs of Mississippi's children. The president's proposed investments stretch from early childhood education through college and beyond," Paige said. "They not only will help us ensure every child has access to a quality education, but also will help us keep our economy sound and our homeland strong. "

Increases in President Bush's 2003 budget request correspond to his determination to close the achievement and attainment gaps that persist among racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups across the country.

Under President Bush's proposed investments in new and existing programs that support the principles of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Mississippi would receive:

• $129.8 million for Title I grants to local education agencies to give state and school districts additional resources to turn around low-performing schools, improve teacher quality, and ensure that no child is trapped in a failing school;
• $40 million for Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, to give state and school districts the flexibility to adopt research-based strategies that will work best to meet their need for improving the quality of teaching and raising student achievement in the core academic subjects;
• $12.3 million for Reading First to support comprehensive reading instruction for children in grades K-3;
• $500,000 for English Language Acquisition through a redesigned program that offers grants to help English language learners make progress in learning English and meeting the same high standards as all other students;
• $5.3 million under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program to help keep Colorado's students and teachers safe in school; and
• $5.3 million to help the state create standards for what a child should know and learn in reading and math in grades 3-8 and develop annual assessments that are aligned to those standards.

In addition, President Bush's proposal includes investments that support children and adults with disabilities, such as:

• $87.9 million for special education grants to Mississippi; and
• $38.7 million for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) state grant program to help individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain and retain employment.

President Bush's proposal includes investments that will help ensure access to postsecondary education for low-income students and families, including $10.9 billion for the Pell Grant program, an increase of $549 million or 5.3 percent. This boost comes on top of the $1.3 billion supplemental for Pell Grants that the president is proposing for fiscal year 2002 in order to maintain the maximum Pell award at the $4,000 level specified by congressional appropriators.

More information about the No Child Left Behind Act and the president's investments in education is available on the Department of Education's Web site at www.ed.gov.

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