Bush in Northern Liberties to tout success of No Child Left Behind Act

In what he called his last policy speech before leaving the White House, President Bush fervently defended the No Child Left Behind Act on the law's seventh anniversary during remarks yesterday at a Northern Liberties school.

Before an audience that included the state's and city's top education officials, first lady Laura Bush and the Rev. Al Sharpton, Bush said that the act he signed into law in 2002 must be preserved by Congress once he leaves office Jan. 20.

"And so I've come to herald the success of a good piece of legislation," Bush said at the Gen. Philip Kearny School, on Fairmount Avenue near 6th Street. "I have come to talk to our citizens about the results that this reform has yielded.

"And I call upon those who can determine the fate of No Child Left Behind in the future to stay strong in the face of criticism, to not weaken the law - because in weakening the law, you weaken the chance for a child to succeed in America."

The No Child law, which initially garnered bipartisan support from Congress, has since become something of a lightning rod. Critics say the law created unfunded mandates for school districts and emphasized testing over teaching.

President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to make changes to the law before it is reauthorized this year.

Bush, who at times yesterday sounded reflective, nevertheless railed at his critics.

"The key to measuring is to test," Bush said. "And, by the way, I've heard every excuse in the book why we should not test - Oh, there's too many tests; you teach to the test; testing is intrusive; testing is not the role of government.

"How can you possibly determine whether a child can read at grade level if you don't test? And for those who claim we're teaching to the test: We're teaching a child to read so he or she can pass the test."

The law requires each state to develop its own academic standards and annually to test students in math and reading with the goal that every student will reach those standards by the year 2014.

Schools that repeatedly fail to make "adequate yearly progress" face penalties that grow in severity, while students at failing schools can receive free tutoring and transfer to better schools.

"I view that as liberation; I view that as empowerment," said Bush, who asserted that the law is helping to narrow the racial- achievement gap.

Bush tipped his hat to Kearny School and its principal, Eileen Spagnola, calling the school one of the city's finest.

The school of 425 kindergarten-through-eighth-graders works, the president said, due in part to the staff's dedication, and community and faith-based groups that help it.

He called district Superintendent Arlene Ackerman "a reform-minded leader who is "willing to challenge the status quo if the status quo is unacceptable."

Bush drew laughter when he said that some may be ready to fall out of their chairs upon learning that he has found common ground with Sharpton, head of the National Action Network, which is active in education reform.

"See, he cares just as much as I care about making sure every child learns to read, write and add and subtract," the president said.

Spagnola said that although Kearny, where nearly 85 percent of students live in poverty, was successful before No Child, the law has prompted more accountability and better use of data to assess student progress.

"So we find that that is a plus, because without the data and finding out what the needs of our children are, it's not going to be a success," she said.

Before the speech, the first couple discussed education reform with Spagnola, Sharpton, Kearny Home and School President Charlotte Petrina and federal, state and local officials.

The Bushes also visited three classrooms, including Cheryl Feldscher's second-graders, who had rehearsed saying, "Good morning, Mr. President" before the Bushes entered the room with a traveling troop of reporters and Secret Service agents that nearly outnumbered the youngsters.

"Are you learning how to read?" the grinning president asked. "Yes, Mr. President," the children softy replied in unison.

"Can I give you some advice?" Bush asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Practice reading a lot," he said. "And make sure you read more than you watch TV."

After loosening up, the children peppered the famous visitors with questions.

How many bathrooms are in the White House? "There's a lot; I have to spend time counting them," Bush said.

When did your daughter get married? "May 10, and it was a very emotional moment for her dad," Laura Bush said.

Do you like your new home in Texas? "I haven't seen it yet. Laura went and got it," the president chuckled. "That's called faith."

Before leaving, President Bush collected letters that the children wrote to him, posed for a class photo and received a bouquet of flowers from Chasitee Rivera.

In response, he kissed her. *