Business Leaders Urge U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor to Maintain Strong Accountability in Reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act

Business Wire, Sept 10, 2007

WASHINGTON -- John J. Castellani, President of the Business Roundtable, expressed business leaders' support for reauthorizing a strengthened No Child Left Behind Act and urged Congress to maintain the law's accountability measures to ensure that the nation meets the goal of all students being able to read and do math on grade level by 2014. Mr. Castellani testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor on behalf of the Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA), a coalition that represents business leaders from every sector of the economy.

Mr. Castellani's testimony addressed the Committee's staff discussion draft for reauthorization of Title I of the law. Along with calling for continued accountability for achievement in reading and math, Mr. Castellani urged that the reauthorization legislation maintain a transparent accountability system and funding for and access to public school choice and supplemental educational services.

"As employers, we understand the important role the U.S. business community must play in ensuring that the American education system prepares our youth to meet the challenges of higher education and the workplace. It is for this reason BCSA has been a staunch supporter of education reform and continues to stand firmly behind the principles underlying the No Child Left Behind Act," said Castellani.

"The fact is that too many students - many from economically disadvantaged backgrounds - are not getting a high-quality education and are moving through our schools without the basic skills necessary to be successful and productive citizens," said Arthur Rothkopf, senior vice president for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The BCSA believes that improving the performance of the K-12 education system in the United States is necessary to provide a strong foundation for both U.S. competitiveness and for individuals to succeed in our rapidly changing world. BCSA is also part of a campaign - NCLB Works! - supported by business, education, community and civil rights groups working to strengthen and reauthorize the Act.

Mr. Castellani's testimony comes less than one week after BCSA hosted NCLB: Moving Forward, an event highlighting the importance of the No Child Left Behind Act that included U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, Arthur F. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. and co-chair of BCSA, Representative George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and Representative Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Senior Republican member of the Committee.

The Business Coalition for Student Achievement - representing business leaders from every sector of the economy - is committed to supporting policies that improve the performance of the K-12 education system in the United States. The Coalition is co-chaired by Craig R. Barrett, Chairman of Intel; Arthur F. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc.; and Edward B. Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO of State Farm, and is coordinated by Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.