October 5, 1999
Web posted at: 6:00 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- In his second speech on his education agenda, Republican presidential front-runner George W. Bush proposed what he called a "fresh start for the federal role in education."

Bush proposed giving states greater flexibility in spending federal grant money in exchange for accountability via student testing. He also said he would increase the amount parents could contribute to tax-free education savings accounts from $500 to $5,000 annually.

Another plank of his education agenda is a $500 million Achievement and Education Fund to reward improving school systems and $3 billion in loan guarantees called the Charter School Homestead Fund to provide loan guarantees to help start or improve charter schools.

"I don't want to tinker with the machinery of the federal role in education," Bush said, speaking to an audience at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. "I want to redefine the role entirely."

Bush detailed the first steps of his tough-love approach to education in a Los Angeles speech last month. He proposed that Title I funds-- the main federal program for poor and disadvantaged children -- should be confiscated from the worst-performing schools and given to parents for private schooling, tutoring "or whatever offers hope."

Vice President Al Gore criticized that approach during visits to Texas schools, saying it would undermine the schools. Without mentioning Gore, Bush returned the fire on Tuesday.

"Think a moment about what this means: It means visiting a school and saying, in essence, you're hopeless," he said. "Not only can't you achieve, you can't even improve. That is not a defense of public education. It's a surrender to despair.

"Those words are not liberalism, it is pessimism. It is accepting and excusing education apartheid in our country, segregating poor children into a world without the hope of change."

But Bush also distanced himself from some of his own party's positions in the speech, saying that on social issues, the GOP has too often portrayed "America as slouching toward Gomorrah." He also said that the party has too often confused the "need of limited government with a disdain for government itself."

Bush also said Republican Party has traditionally focused too much on the national economy to the exclusion of issues like education.

"Of course we want growth and vigor in our economy," he said. "But too often there are human problems that persist in the shadow of affluence. And the strongest argument for conservative ideals, for responsibility and accountability and the virtues of our tradition, is that they lead to greater justice, less suffering and more opportunity."

In this speech, Bush again stressed his themes of higher standards, local control and consequences for failure plus expanding choices available to parents through private- or charter-school education.

He proposed streamlining the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which is a $13.8 billion program that currently provides grants for elementary and secondary programs in 60 categories.

Bush said he would reduce the number of categories to five so states can tailor programs to their unique needs. Under the plan, money could be spent to improve the achievement of disadvantaged children; promote fluency in English; train and recruit teachers; encourage student character and school safety; and promote innovation and informed parental choice.

Proposals to use federal money for state voucher programs -- strongly opposed by teacher unions and Democratic candidates such as Gore -- would be allowed.

Bill Bradley, Gore's rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, has voted for voucher experiments but doesn't believe they are the solution to fundamental educational problems.

Most of the GOP candidates favor voucher systems.

Bush took another shot at Gore, criticizing the Clinton Administration's streamlining of an Education Department's grant process by saying the number of steps involved was reduced from 487 to 216.

"If this is reinventing government, it makes you wonder how this administration was ever skilled enough and efficient enough to create the Internet," he said, a reference to the vice president's widely publicized gaffe in which he said he helped create the computer network.

In giving states more flexibility, Bush said he would require the states to design and administer annual tests on the basics of reading and math to children in grades 3-8. States that don't show improvement after five years would lose the administrative portion of their ESEA grants, roughly 5 percent of the total. That money would be diverted to a fund for charter schools.

"I promise you I will shine a spotlight of shame on failure," he said.

States that improve would be eligible for money from the Achievement and Education Fund, which would be bolstered with $500 million over five years.

Broad distribution of test results would be required, including posting the results on the Internet. With those results, parents would have the leverage to force results, Bush said.

"In fact, the greatest benefit of testing, with the power to transform a school or a system, is the power it gives to parents," he said. "They will know, not just by rumor or reputation but by hard numbers which schools are succeeding and which are not."

Bush would increase the number of charter schools -- privately run schools that receive public money -- through his $3 billion Homestead program that would provide seed money for up to 2,000 such schools.

"As president, I want to fan the spark of charter schools into a flame," Bush said. "If charters are done properly -- free to hire their own teachers, adopt their own curriculum, set their own operating rules and high standards -- they will change the face of American education."

Bush also proposed increasing the amount for education savings from $500 per year to $5,000. A 1997 law allows parents to withdraw contributions tax-free to pay for college expenses. Bush would allow parents spend the money from kindergarten through college.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tuesday, October 5, 1999

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• Hastert denies Republicans have abandoned Earned Income Tax Credit idea
• Albright, others to defend test ban treaty in Senate
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• As HMO vote looms, industry reps give speaker $1,000-a-plate breakfast
• WALTER MEARS: Front-runners turn to offense after stumbles
• Gore pledges largest increase ever for special education
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• Administration urges quick action on FAA bill

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