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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Johanna Schneider John Reid |
Business Leaders Meet with President Bush to Discuss Importance of Reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act this Year
Washington, DC – The Business Coalition for Student Achievement’s three co-chairs, Craig Barrett, Chairman of Intel, Edward B. Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO of State Farm, and Arthur F. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc., today met with President Bush to reaffirm their commitment to working with Congress and the Administration to strengthen and reauthorize the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act this year. The coalition, representing business leaders from every sector of the U.S. economy, views NCLB as essential to ensuring that the U.S. can compete in the worldwide economy, and that individuals can succeed in our rapidly changing world.
“We simply cannot retreat from the core principles in No Child Left Behind,” said Barrett. “We urge Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Actthis year.”
“As business leaders and major employers, we are committed to working on this bi-partisan issue,” added Rust. “Today’s meeting shows we are moving in the right direction.”
“We have to build on the encouraging results we've seen from NCLB to make sure all students graduate from high school prepared for college, citizenship and the 21st century workplace,” said Ryan.
John J. Castellani, President of Business Roundtable, and Tom Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, also participated in the meeting with the President.
“The business community is proud to join with civil rights and education advocates to highlight the importance of the No Child Left Behind Act to each student’s future as well as to our nation’s competitiveness,” said Castellani.
Donohue concluded, “This is a matter of critical national urgency. What's at stake is the continued success and competitiveness of the American economy—and the continued viability and credibility of the American dream.”
For more information on the Business Coalition for Student Achievement, visit biz4achievement.org.
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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.
