WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today the Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA), representing business leaders from every sector of the U.S. economy, released its Principles for the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), formerly known as No Child Left Behind.
“Education reform is an economic security issue, a national security issue, and a vital social and moral issue.”
“Our education system is in crisis,” said Edward B. Rust, Jr., Chairman and CEO of State Farm and Co-Chair of BCSA. “America’s low high school graduation and college completion rates represent systemic failure that leaves our children inadequately prepared in an increasingly competitive world. A focus on improving graduation rates and addressing the achievement gap will be a critical next step in improving academic outcomes for our children.”
John J. Castellani, president of Business Roundtable, presented the principles on behalf of BCSA in testimony today before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
The recommendations call for ESEA to:
“Now is the time to reauthorize ESEA and build upon the features of more transparency, increased accountability, and expanded choice for children and parents,” said Arthur J. Rothkopf, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“We urge Congress to move ahead with a bipartisan approach to ESEA reauthorization,” said Castellani. “Education reform is an economic security issue, a national security issue, and a vital social and moral issue.”
The testimony and BCSA’s Principles for Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act are at www.biz4achievement.org.
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 Barrett, Intel; William D. Green, Accenture; and Edward B. Rust Jr., State Farm and is coordinated by Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.