U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings made an appearance in Iowa this past week, touting the four-year-old “No Child Left Behind” law that set new standards for schools, and cuts federal funding to schools where students aren’t getting progressively better test scores. “The President and Mrs. Bush believe that with a great teacher, a student can succeed — no matter what zip code they live in, what language they speak, or what special needs they may have. That’s why President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act which holds states and schools to the same high standards,” Spellings said. “It’s helping students all across our country succeed.” Spellings and her agency have created a section on the www.ed.gov website to let schools damaged by Hurricane Katrina post lists of books or supplies they need, so other schools and even private companies can review the lists and send donations. Spellings also praised schools which are enrolling hurricane evacuees who’ve sought refuge in Iowa and elsewhere. “We know that one of the most stabilizing things about a child’s life is a great school,” Spellings said.Spellings was an advisor to President Bush when he was Governor of Texas. Bush hired her as a domestic policy advisor when he became president, and she’s credited with crafting the No Child Left Behind Act. She’s the mother of two school-aged daughters, one of whom attends a parochial high school. The other attends a public middle school.
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