George W. Bush
Accountability is an essential standard that must be met if we
are going to help our children receive a quality education. I believe
that any school that receives federal funds must measure student
improvement to help close the achievement gap. Under my plan, if
a child remains trapped in a persistently failing school that does
not improve after three years, the federal funds will be given directly
to the parents to make the best decision on how to educate their
child, including mentoring, tutoring, or selecting another public,
charter, or private school.
Under my plan, the federal government will no longer pay schools
to cheat poor children. My plan will also provide bonus and incentive
funds for schools that show consistent improvement.
I will increase funding for teacher training and recruiting by
$400 million. Existing federal funds provided for professional development,
class size reduction, and the Goals 2000 program will be combined
with this new funding into a single, flexible $2.4 billion grant
program.
This change will streamline certification, recruit and train teachers
in their subject areas, and meet the specific needs for teachers
each individual state has. In return, states will be required to
establish a teacher accountability system, which could include such
measures as assessment of teachers based on student results, differential
pay, and subject-specific teacher testing. States will also be encouraged
to help teachers master methods of instruction that have been shown
to boost student achievement.
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Al Gore
I know that greater investment without accountability is a waste
of money, but accountability without investment is doomed to fail.
My plan will hold teachers to high professional standards, making
sure there is a qualified teacher in every classroom. The plan will
require states to ensure that all teachers are certified and fully
qualified and that all new middle and high school teachers pass
a rigorous test of their proficiency and teaching skills before
they set foot in the classroom.
My plan would also test new elementary school teachers' proficiency
and their knowledge of reading strategies. My "Higher Standards/Higher
Pay" initiative would require periodic peer reviews of licensed
teachers and faster, more equitable ways to identify, improve, and
where necessary, remove failing teachers.
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Gore and Bush Comment on Teacher Accountability
