No Child Left Behind: “Testing is the only way to identify and help students who are falling behind. This nation will not go back to the days of simply shuffling children along from grade to grade without them learning the basics. I refuse to give up on any child. And the No Child Left Behind Act is opening the door of opportunity to all of America’s children.” (2004 State of the Union Address, 1/20/04)
Accountability in education: “One thing that’s important about accountability is it lets you determine whether the curriculum you’re using is working. If you’re using a lousy curriculum, you’re going to get lousy results. And it helps schools adjust. It helps teachers understand whether or not the systems they use work. This is a tool, this is a helpful tool. Measurement is good.” (“Focus on Education with President Bush,” 9/27/04)
School choice: “At some point in time, in order to challenge
mediocrity where we find mediocrity, parents have to be given other options.” (Speech at Archbishop Carroll High School, Washington, D.C., 2/14/04)
Signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act 2001. This law seeks to close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility and choice so that no child is left behind (Public Law No. 107-110, 1/8/02).