President Bush's Education Reform 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.