STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON LAUNCH OF COMMISSION ON NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

I welcome today’s launch of the Commission on No Child Left Behind, and I commend the Aspen Institute for its focus on this important issue. When the Act became law at the beginning of 2002, it symbolized a strong new national commitment to improving public education and to giving all students what they need to succeed in school. Congress must reauthorize the law next year, and it will clearly benefit from the Commission’s careful examination of the implementation and its suggestions for improvement. I look forward to the Commission’s proposals and to working closely with students, teachers, parents, and educational leaders to see that Congress and the Administration live up to the promise of the Act. ###