print-only banner
The White House Skip Main Navigation
  
 Home > News & Policies > Policies in Focus > Teacher Quality

A Quality Teacher in Every Classroom

White House photo by Moreen Ishikawa White House photo by Moreen Ishikawa

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.

>>Details about A Quality Teacher in Every Classroom: Improving Teacher Quality and Enhancing the Profession

Speeches and News Releases
January 8, 2003
President Bush Celebrates First Anniversary of No Child Left Behind
President George W. Bush acknowledges school principals and superintendents, education leaders, and Members of Congress in celebrating the one-year anniversary of the signing of the No Child Left Behind Act in the East Room, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003.  White House photo by Tina Hager
 
January 4, 2003
President's Radio Address
 
March 5, 2002
President Joins Mrs. Bush at Teacher Quality Conference
President George W. Bush addresses the White House Conference on Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers in the East Room March 4, 2002. Pictured in the audience from left to right is U. S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Laura Bush and Lynne Cheney. "We're focusing much of the teacher training effort on specific needs, like special education or math or science, and one of my passions, early reading," said the President. "The Reading First program is aimed at making sure every child of every background can read by the third grade."  White House photo by Eric Draper
 
More News »
Documents
  Early Childhood Development Guide "Good Start, Grow Smart"
     PDF version PDF Document
 
  A Quality Teacher in Every Classroom: Improving Teacher Quality and Enhancing the Profession
     PDF version PDF Document
Multimedia
January 8, 2003
President Bush Celebrates First Anniversary of No Child Left Behind
President George W. Bush acknowledges school principals and superintendents, education leaders, and Members of Congress in celebrating the one-year anniversary of the signing of the No Child Left Behind Act in the East Room, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003.  White House photo by Tina Hager
 
January 4, 2003
President's Radio Address
 
March 5, 2002
President Joins Mrs. Bush at Teacher Quality Conference
President George W. Bush addresses the White House Conference on Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers in the East Room March 4, 2002. Pictured in the audience from left to right is U. S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Laura Bush and Lynne Cheney. "We're focusing much of the teacher training effort on specific needs, like special education or math or science, and one of my passions, early reading," said the President. "The Reading First program is aimed at making sure every child of every background can read by the third grade."  White House photo by Eric Draper
 
More Video »
Related Links
  Early Childhood Education Initiative
  Teachers Conference
  U.S. Department of Education
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  National Endowment for the Humanities