Raleigh — U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) today called on the Bush Administration and Congress to fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act, as the President spoke about the Act in Greensboro.
“Talk is cheap, said Etheridge. “Unfortunately, this Administrations’ sorry record of education funding cuts leaves our schools and taxpayers behind. No Child Left Behind promised accountability and tough standards for our schools, in exchange for a sizeable increase in federal funds. However, the President’s budgets have broken the promise of No Child Left Behind each and every year since the law was enacted. Our schools need the funds to make these goals a reality. It’s time to walk the walk, not just talk the talk on education.
Funding for the No Child Left Behind Act has been cut by $1.5 billion over the last two years. Since the act became law in 2002, it has been under funded by $56.8 billion. Under the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007, schools will receive $16.4 billion less than promised in 2007 alone.
In North Carolina, under the 2007 proposed budget, schools will be funded by $382 million less than what the No Child Left Behind Act promised. That includes a $21 million shortfall for Education Technology, and a $6 million shortfall for Math and Science Partnerships. The Safe and Drug Free Schools initiative will be under funded by almost $9 million in North Carolina, even after recent school shootings have called attention to the need to strengthen school safety measures.
Etheridge, the former N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction, is the only former state schools chief serving in Congress. Etheridge has introduced legislation in the past to fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act. He also serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, where he is working to increase federal efforts to improve school safety.