Bush vies for Democratic support in education package

WASHINGTON – President Bush, seeking Democratic support for an education package submitted to Congress yesterday, promised more help to troubled schools before shifting more federal funds to private institutions.

"Our goal is to improve public education," Bush said in an East Room send-off for an education agenda that centers around vouchers for private school education, the most divisive part of his program to hold public schools accountable for student learning.

Bush said he wants to require annual state reading and math tests for students in every grade in order to gather reliable data on "who's falling behind and who needs help."

"Once failing schools are identified, we'll help them improve. We'll help them help themselves," said Bush, with Education Secretary-designate Rod Paige at his side.

In Bush's plan – his signature campaign issue – failing schools have three years to get up to standards so that pupils are able to achieve before federal funds are stripped for other uses, such as vouchers.

"When schools do not teach and will not change, parents and students must have other meaningful options," Bush said. "If somebody's got a better idea, I hope they bring it forward."

Bush, who said he wanted legislation enacted by summer so that school districts have time to implement reforms for the 2001-02 academic year, met privately yesterday morning with top congressional Republicans and Democrats who oversee education policy-making.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said afterward that despite differences over vouchers, Democrats are eager to work with him on education.

"The areas which he pointed out where we are in agreement, I thought were very substantial. I, for one, am interested in getting some action (on education overhaul)," Kennedy said outside the West Wing.

"What is important today is that we have a president who wants to make this a strong priority on education, and I think we have those that have leadership positions in the House and Senate that want to work with him and get something meaningful done," the Democrat said.