As school children across North Carolina return to the classroom, Bush and the Do-Nothing Republican Congress continue to do nothing to improve education.

Each school year, more frightening results of the Bush Republicans' No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law come to light.

Instead of properly funding their own legislation, Bush Republicans like Representatives Charles Taylor, Robin Hayes, Virginia Foxx, Sue Myrick, Patrick McHenry, Howard Coble, and Walter Jones have cut education by over $40 billion since 2001, leaving schools to struggle with NCLB compliance, and creating a massive teacher shortage in rural schools.

Because Republicans have failed to provide promised funding for education reforms, 65,751 children in North Carolina have gone without help in reading and math and 39,922 have gone without after-school programs that boost academic achievement and keep kids safe. [CRS, 1/2006] If we want American jobs to stay in America, we have to have more American children succeeding in sciences, math and literacy.

Democrats know that the key to expanding opportunity is to provide every child with a world-class education. We will meet our responsibilities to America's children by ensuring that our schools have the resources they need to help our kids meet high standards.

That's why in North Carolina, Democrats aren't waiting on Washington, we're leading the way.

* North Carolina Democrats raised teacher salaries and made a historic investment in education while balancing the budget and cutting taxes for working families. "Schools' budget ship comes in" "Teachers get raises, school districts don't have to cut spending, more money is provided for disadvantaged students, and, for the first time, poor districts will get all the money the legislature promised them more than a decade ago." [Raleigh News and Observer, 7/6/2006] [SESSION LAW 2006-66]

* North Carolina Democrats passed the Education Lottery to fund school construction and college scholarships. Democrats passed legislation dedicating all lottery proceeds to education and establishing a new oversight board.

* Democrats raised competitiveness of our state work force by introducing "Learn and Earn." By giving students the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an associate's degree in 5 years, and teaming up with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, our state is the new trailblazer in American education. Better yet, we are giving all our children the ability to stay competitive with other nations in the 21st century.

* North Carolina Democrats created and have expanded "Smart-Start" and "More at Four" pre-kindergarten learning programs.

* North Carolina Democrats have lowered class size.

* Key indicators are showing results. The 2005 SAT results showed North Carolina's average total SAT score increased by four points to 1,010 (higher than the national average), and participation rose by four points to 74 percent. ABC Scores released in 2005 show that 81% of students are performing at or above their grade level. Fourth graders performed above the national average in reading and placed behind only three states in math. North Carolina is one of the leading states in the nation in teacher quality and recruitment. [NC Department of Public Instruction]

"Republicans want to run North Carolina like they're running Washington. The contrast between the Bush Republicans' failure to fund No Child Left Behind and North Carolina Democrats' education successes should worry every parent and teacher," said North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek. "North Carolina Democrats are improving our schools and moving our state forward. Our future depends on it."