Congressional Black Caucus
"The Conscience of Congress since 1969"
www.congressionalblackcaucus.net

(Washington, D.C.)- U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) will deliver the weekly CBC "Message to America" radio address this Saturday, July 30, 2005.  Representative Johnson will address the growing issue of education disparities.

 The CBC "Message to America" is distributed nationwide to the American Urban Radio Network's (AURN) affiliate stations.

            WHO:        U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)

            WHEN:      Saturday, July 30, 2005; 12:06 p.m. EST

            WHERE:   American Urban Radio Network Affiliate Stations

Rep. Johnson is expected to deliver the following remarks:

Good morning, America. I am Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas. I am pleased to speak to you today on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). 

Despite recent statements by the Bush administration, the status of our students’ global competitiveness in mathematics and science is catastrophic as well as disappointing.  Consistently, international tests demonstrate that American students under perform on science and mathematics achievement tests above the 6th grade. 

In one recent international test designed to measure 15-year-olds’ problem solving and reasoning abilities, students in 28 out of 40 countries outperformed American 15-year-olds in math and problem solving; and students in 22 out of 40 countries outperformed American 15-years-olds in science.

The CBC is committed to knowledge and making the education of all of our children a priority. The issue of student preparedness in math and science is important and complex. 

Our work in Congress involves large-scale projects to improve the competitiveness of American science students.

Based on experiences in my home district of Dallas, Texas, there must be a substantial focus on our urban students.  Our nation’s urban schools enroll approximately 30 percent of all public school students in the United States.  Urban students account for about 40 percent of the nation’s poor and 45 percent of the nation’s minority students. 

Nationwide, the proportion of American students enrolled in urban schools is growing.  Therefore, if we are to fix the problems of global competitiveness in math and science within the United States, we must combat these issues in districts where there is the greatest potential for impact.

There are several things we can do to reverse the trends of global competitiveness.

The Congressional Black Caucus believes that:

1.      Teachers make a difference.

2.      Strong school leadership is essential.  We need to continue efforts to evaluate and support high standards for school administrators.

3.     We must identify what works in schools.  We need accountability evidence for teachers, school administrators, parents and other key stakeholders.

4.     We need to continue to improve our national standards and to apply them rigorously.

The CBC has worked tirelessly to improve our schools. Unlike the physical capital that belongs largely to the rich, intellectual capital is available to everyone with enough ambition to strive for it. Where we start in life doesn't have to determine where we wind up. And coming from nothing doesn't have to mean being stuck there.

I believe we know a great deal about what works and what we need to correct this. The question remains whether or not we are serious about confronting this challenge and eliminating education disparities.

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