Education must remain a top priority

U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello
Leader's Forum

This week is American Education Week, which recognizes the educators, administrators and school staff that instruct our children and keep them safe and healthy. First celebrated in 1921, it is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and a long list of school-related associations. We can all remember at least one teacher or administrator that made a difference in our lives, so it is altogether appropriate to take this time each year to say thanks. It is also a good opportunity to emphasize the critical need to provide our children with the best education possible. Education must remain a top priority.

I have always believed that education spending is one of the best federal investments. The dollar for dollar return to society for programs such as Head Start, which prepares young children for school, bears this out. We need to continue to do more to ensure that our children have the best possible learning environments, including reducing class sizes, building new schools and maintaining existing facilities, making sure there is a well-paid, qualified teacher in every classroom and ensuring each child is learning at a baseline level.

The last two points are a major part of the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Legislation enacted in 2001. Led by President Bush, Republicans and Democrats reached agreement on these very concepts, that we need the best qualified teachers, that students would undergo yearly testing to make sure they meet minimum education requirements, and that more resources would be devoted to the education of our children.

The results so far have been mixed. I am very disappointed that the president has not lived up to his promise to fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act. While the mandates on our schools are in place, the federal funds promised have not been received. The shortfall for this year could be as large as $8 billion. I am working to close this gap.

We will need to be patient as we learn from this process. The key thing to remember is that as problem areas are identified we can address them ˆ it is better to know a student is struggling and help them than not to know. We must reassure teachers that we stand ready to work with them ˆ not blame them ˆ to equip our children to reach their maximum potential. And we must fully fund the No Child Left Behind program. The missing $8 billion means two million children will not get reading and math help, one million children will not have after-school programs, and 80,000 fewer teachers will get high-quality training. It also means many children will be less prepared to attend college.

While getting an education has never been so important, given the technological demands of the 21st century workplace, going to college has never been more expensive. It remains a fact that people who receive a college degree have more earning power than those who do not. At the same time, tuition at state universities increased nationwide ˆ as much as 40 percent in some states. Due to record-high financial barriers, more than 400,000 low and moderate-income high school graduates who are fully prepared to attend a four-year college will be unable to do so. Students and their parents are being forced to shoulder an even greater share of the rising costs of attending college.

This is another area where federal assistance plays a very important role. The federal Pell Grant program is the single largest source for postsecondary education aid, providing an estimated $12.5 billion to students in fiscal year 2003. Awards are need-based, allowing many students who would not otherwise be able to afford college to continue their education.

However, since the program started in 1973, there have been only three years when Pell Grants were fully funded. Over that time, the value of Pell Grants has eroded from 84 percent of the cost of a public university to 42 percent. We need to do better for our students, for this is an investment not just in them, but in our society as well. An educated workforce helps ensure a dynamic economy.

Our educators and our students face many challenges. A lack of resources does not have to be one of them, but record state and federal budget deficits are seriously affecting money available for schools. American Education Week is a good time to think about the consequences of not equipping today's students to learn. Together, we can make certain that our children have the necessary resources to succeed.

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