Bill Clinton: “I am gratified by the broad bipartisan support in the Senate for final passage of the elementary and secondary education…”

“I am gratified by the broad bipartisan support in the Senate for final passage of the elementary and secondary education act (ESEA). This act is good news for students, teachers, families, and communities across our country. It represents a commitment to world-class standards of academic achievements for all students and to adequate preparation for every teacher. It brings added help to the schools that need it the most and offers new flexibility to States and local communities. It reinforces our national commitment to schools that are safe and drug- free and that offer young people a disciplined environment for learning. It encourages parental involvement in the education of their children. And it puts the Federal Government squarely on the side of public school choice, innovative charter schools, and character education. Final passage of the ESEA is the capstone of 2 years of efforts to improve the entire system of lifelong learning. In an economy in which, more and more, what we earn depends upon what we learn, these efforts are the key to our future.…”