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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2000

News Release

Rand Study Derides Bush Education Record

Findings confirm that the Texas Emperor has no clothes

Washington, D.C. -- National Education Association (NEA) Executive Director Don Cameron said the nonpartisan RAND foundation study released today shows the emptiness of Gov. George W. Bush's pledge to "leave no child behind." The RAND study found that despite Gov. Bush's boasting, student test scores in Texas actually lagged behind national test scores in critical subject areas. "Gov. Bush has been hiding behind Texas state students scores, which have now been thrown into dispute by a respected research organization," said Cameron. "When it comes to education, the Texas Emperor has no clothes."

The report shows that the starkest differences between Texas students' performance on the state test and performance on the national test are between white and minority children. The Texas test masks the disparity between white and minority students. The national test shows that the achievement gap in Texas is actually increasing. Cameron said this is particularly troubling considering the high-stakes that accompany testing. The dropout and attrition rate for Black and Hispanic students is 50 percent. For white students, it is 30 percent. "These facts make a mockery of Gov. Bush's pledge to 'leave no child behind,'" said Cameron.

Cameron said Bush also emphasizes testing to the detriment of a more complete education. "Tests should be used as a stethoscope, not a hammer," said Cameron. "Unfortunately, in his zeal for more testing, Gov. Bush misses important opportunities to deliver real improvements in education by reducing class size, hiring and training talented new teachers, and providing children the strong beginning they need through preschool and Head Start."

"Gov. Bush tells us not to 'mess with Texas,' but as educators we cannot ignore the mess in Texas," said Cameron. "This RAND study provides an important public service by exposing important information about the Texas education record."

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.