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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2001

News Release

Reaching Education Goals Requires Investment

Bush radio address should focus on resources required for reform

Washington, D.C. -- As President Bush prepares to emphasize education in a series of public events, the nation's teachers stressed that reaching the education goals will require more than well-intentioned speeches. "President Bush can best advance public education and reading by funding the programs that make a real difference in student learning," said NEA President Bob Chase. "While we appreciate the focus he's bringing to education, delivering the individualized attention to students necessary to meet the expectations of the bill requires resources that aren't currently available in the President's budget."

Making matters worse, the federal tax cut drains precious education funds from state revenue sources. NEA released a report outlining how reductions in the federal estate tax shrink state revenues by more than twice the new K-12 funding President Bush's budget provides. "The federal government is providing money with one hand and taking it away with the other," said Chase. "The federal government must not shirk its responsibility to children and public education. Congress and the President simply must address this shortfall they've imposed on states."

The NEA findings are consistent with the concerns the nation's governors expressed at their annual meeting last month. Even as the federal government places new demands on states with mandated testing and reporting requirements, state coffers will suffer disproportionate losses from new tax cuts enacted this year. The report is found at www.nea.org/publiced/0107ed_finance.pdf. A comparison of current budget levels and those proposed by the President, House, and Senate can be accessed at www.nea.org/lac

Although the President's budget increases education spending by 6.2 percent for 2001-2002, this increase is dwarfed by the states' total revenue losses generated by new federal tax cuts. The NEA report, which details revenue forecasts for all 50 states, shows that 41 states will suffer net losses. As school districts struggle to recruit and retain qualified teachers and to improve student achievement, the Administration's policies sap state revenues and undermine public education."

"The President's budget, which provides no real increase after inflation for the critical Title I program, fails to move toward full funding for special education, freezes safe school and after school programs, eliminates funds for urgent school repairs, and cuts education technology, is clearly inadequate to provide the real resources needed to implement education reforms. Congress and the President must act now to shore up support for our schools, or our students will be paying the price for years to come. Simply imposing new demands without providing resources required for change, will fail to produce positive results," said Chase.

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