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Folder Title:
State and Local GI Bill for Children 6/25/92 [OA 5809] [2]
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3
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Document No. 334268
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
CHARLIE
06/22
DATE: 06/19/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 1:00 p.m. Monday
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G. I. BILL FOR KIDS, 06/25
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
HORNER
SKINNER
MCBRIDE
SCOWCROFT
MOORE
DARMAN
>
PETERSMEYER
BRADY
PORTER
BROMLEY
SMITH
CALIO
YEUTTER
FINDLAY
DEMAREST
MCGROARTY
FITZWATER
KAUFMAN
GRAY
HOLIDAY
FIRESTONE
KILBERG
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments directly to Dan McGroarty no later than
1:00 p.m. on Monday, 06/22, with a copy to this office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
18 : ?/d 22 Nnr 26
Dayments children dinit.
Call
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Draft 1
June 19, 1992
2 P1:57
1:45 p.m.
[GI]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS
THE ROSE GARDEN
JUNE 25, 1992
10:15 A.M.
[Acknowledgements.]
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same dreams
all of us have. They want their kids to have a first-class
solid
education. They know that a good education is absolutely
essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: ["At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in the
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around. "]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for [Javon]
-- creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
low-income families so they could attend non-religious private
schools. Governor Thompson and Representative Williams wanted to
see what would happen when children of poorer families have more
2
of the same choices of schools that people with money already
have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of families and
the number of choices -- including religious schools -- that low-
income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
authorize the spending of half billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
too
of middle and low-income families so the can have more of the
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
We have done this before and it has worked. We called it the GI
Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
use
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill -- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
3
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it;
at the end of World War II, only five percent of Americans had a
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
The consumer power it gave veterans -- dollars to spend at the
college of their choice -- helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world.
We can. do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children -- to create
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
gave veterans consumer power that helped create the best system
of higher education in the world, the federal government should
help state and local governments and the private sector give
children of middle and low-income families consumer power that
can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools in
the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
Chist
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, If our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a half
billion of dollars to help a number of state and local
4
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle and low-
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create $1,000 dollar scholarships for every child
of a family who makes less than the national median family
income, which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four. If
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
families.
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted -- must be permitted -- to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area -- public, private, and religious -- to participate if
they choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
5
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
$1,000 dollar scholarships to all of the middle and low-income
children in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton.
This is enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out
what happens when children with families with less money have
more of the same choices of schools that people with money have.
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America. It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks. Let me talk about some of those concerns:
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools -- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
6
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard Congress
suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and guaranteed
student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal tax
payers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private, or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2. Some will say letting parents choose will leave SOIMER
children behind -- I simply do not buy this idea that someone
cannot make a good decision just because he or she is poor. That
is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care vouchers for
poor families or when we proposed that the poor own their homes.
Let the poor own their own home, choose their own schools. Give
them help in standing on their own two feet and building and
climbing their own ladder so that they can grab a share of the
American Dream.
3. Some believe that letting parents choose private schools
will hurt public schools -- I believe the opposite will happen.
Look at what has happened to colleges and universities over the
last half century as a result of the enormous consumer power made
available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and student loans.
80 per cent of our college students attend public universities
7
and our public and private colleges together have become the best
in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.]
And I hope that he sees that this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about $45
million, 90% of the grant, would probably go to the education of
children in the public schools. This would roughly double the
amount of federal aid from the Department of Education to the-
Milwaukee public schools.
4. Some will say choice could be the door to racial
discrimination -- so that there can be no question about this, I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal anti-
discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government can not afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many times
that money alone is not the answer to our education problems.
The U.S. already spends more per student for schools than any
country in the world except Switzerland. We need revolutions
anot more money for more of the same.
in
The States goo.
education
that reforms
and activitures
American
colucation;
we don't were
8
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families can
spend to create opportunity and change our schools. It is an
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this revolution
is occurring.
Pay Roomey and Choice Chartoshe That Fund
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Gólden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
name?
?
vouchers to attend any school of their choice. In San Antonio,
l
the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million dollars in vouchers
for up to half of any child's school tuition, up to a maximum of
750 dollars. The program will serve 840 children, with over
1,000 children on that a waiting list. In California a-proposed
for Alibrands and Thousands 7 support an
proposing
ballot initiati would provide a voucher scholarship for every
school age child in the state. Scholarships could be redeemed at
any public or private school that chooses to participate. In
Vermont, school boards have sent children to private schools for
75 years. The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in
Derry, is a private school with most of its students paid for by
area school boards.
The from the + choice instrution Ent + heres construction adver
our leaving a They -- are time an in
9
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form
the THE
fr beln
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
they 300 for
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
with
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access to
the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions.
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. [Janette
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids -- or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles down
10
smokestacks and capture a 4.5 million ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind of
country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want them to have.
That changing our schools will require several revolutions
at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created established very
ambitious national education goals and a ten year community-by-
community strategy to reach those goals called AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools
so students have choices among the best schools of the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a voluntary
system of national examinations -- call them American Achievement
Tests -- so parents and communities can tell how their kids and
schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers'
backs. Teachers don't need a federal recipe book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local GI Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer power --
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice -- give them
muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
11
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing. We should remember the problems we have are not
different than the problems people are having in every country in
the world today. We should also remember that we have more
capacity to solve our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have remembered
what is most important to us, the principles that have bound us.
together, our most enduring values. We have no principles more
important than freedom, opportunity and choice. We have no value
more enduring than the idea that every American should have the
opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
# # #
Document No.
334268
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
06/22
DATE: 06/19/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 1:00 p.m. Monday
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G. I. BILL FOR KIDS, 06/25
thait -extension Deque sted
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT kmstol
HORNER
SKINNER
MCBRIDE
SCOWCROFT
MOORE
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
(scully)
BRADY
PORTER *KOLB
BROMLEY
SMITH
CALIO NK
YEUTTER
FINDLAY
DEMAREST
MCGROARTY
FITZWATER
KAUFMAN
GRAY has someminor some
suggestions
HOLIDAY
FIRESTONE
KILBERG
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments directly to Dan McGroarty no later than
1:00 p.m. on Monday, 06/22, with a copy to this office. Thanks.
Waiting on:
PINKERTON commingts
phoned * to DM.G
RESPONSE:
plus Memo
Lxphone
Kilberg?
-:45 Pm
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Draft 1
June 19, 1992
2 JUN 19 Pl: 57
1:45 p.m.
[GI]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS
THE ROSE GARDEN
JUNE 25, 1992
10:15 A.M.
[Acknowledgements.]
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same dreams
all of us have. They want their kids to have a first-class
education. They know that a good education is absolutely
essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: ["At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in the
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around. "]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for [Javon]
-- creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
low-income families so they could attend non-religious private
schools. Governor Thompson and Representative Williams wanted to
see what would happen when children of poorer families have more
2
of the same choices of schools that people with money already
have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of families and
the number of choices -- including religious schools -- that low-
income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
authorize the spending of half billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
of middle and low-income families so they can have more of the
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
We have done this before and it has worked. We called it the GI
Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill -- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
3
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it;
at the end of World War II, only five percent of Americans had a
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
The consumer power it gave veterans -- dollars to spend at the
college of their choice -- helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world.
We can do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children -- to create
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
gave veterans consumer power that helped create the best system
of higher education in the world, the federal government should
help state and local governments and the private sector give
children of middle and low-income families consumer power that
can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools in
the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, if our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a half
billion of dollars to help a number of state and local
4
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle and low-
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create $1,000 dollar scholarships for every child
of a family who makes less than the national median family
income, which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four. If
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
families.
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted -- must be permitted -- to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area -- public, private, and religious -- to participate if
they choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
5
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
$1,000 dollar scholarships to all of the middle and low-income
children in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton.
This is enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out
what happens when children with families with less money have
more of the same choices of schools that people with money have.
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America. It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks. Let me talk about some of those concerns:
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools -- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
6
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard Congress
suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and guaranteed
student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal tax
payers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private, or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2. Some will say letting parents choose will leave some
children behind -- I simply do not buy this idea that someone
cannot make a good decision just because he or she is poor. That
is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care vouchers for
poor families or when we proposed that the poor own their homes.
Let the poor own their own home, choose their own schools. Give
them help in standing on their own two feet and building and
climbing their own ladder so that they can grab a share of the
American Dream.
3. Some believe that letting parents choose private schools
will hurt public schools -- I believe the opposite will happen.
Look at what has happened to colleges and universities over the
last half century as a result of the enormous consumer power made
available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and student loans.
80 per cent of our college students attend public universities
7
and our public and private colleges together have become the best
in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.]
And I hope that he sees that this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about $45
million, 90% of the grant, would probably go to the education of
children in the public schools. This would roughly double the
amount of federal aid from the Department of Education to the
Milwaukee public schools.
4. Some will say choice could be the door to racial
discrimination -- so that there can be no question about this, I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal anti-
discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government can not afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many times
that money alone is not the answer to our education problems.
The U.S. already spends more per student for schools than any
country in the world except Switzerland. We need revolutions,
not more money for more of the same.
8
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families can
spend to create opportunity and change our schools. It is an
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this revolution
is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choice. In San Antonio,
the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million dollars in vouchers
for up to half of any child's school tuition, up to a maximum of
750 dollars. The program will serve 840 children, with over
1,000 children on a waiting list. In California, a proposed
ballot initiative would provide a voucher scholarship for every
school age child in the state. Scholarships could be redeemed at
any public or private school that chooses to participate. In
Vermont, school boards have sent children to private schools for
75 years. The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in
Derry, is a private school with most of its students paid for by
area school boards.
9
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form of new
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access to
the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions.
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. [Janette
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids -- or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles down
10
smokestacks and capture a 4.5 million ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind of
country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want them to have.
That changing our schools will require several revolutions
at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten year community-by-
community strategy to reach those goals called AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools--
so students have choices among the best schools of the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a voluntary
system of national examinations -- call them American Achievement
Tests -- so parents and communities can tell how their kids and
schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers'
backs. Teachers don't need a federal recipe book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local GI Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer power --
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice -- give them
muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
11
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing. We should remember the problems we have are not
different than the problems people are having in every country in
the world today. We should also remember that we have more
capacity to solve our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have remembered
what is most important to us, the principles that have bound us
together, our most enduring values. We have no principles more
important than freedom, opportunity and choice.
We have no value
more enduring than the idea that every American should have the
opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
# # #
334268
Document No.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
06/22
DATE: 06/19/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 1:00 p.m. Monday
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G. I. BILL FOR KIDS, 06/25
SUBJECT:
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
HORNER
SKINNER
MCBRIDE
SCOWCROFT
MOORE
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BRADY
PORTER
BROMLEY
SMITH
CALIO
YEUTTER
FINDLAY
DEMAREST
MCGROARTY
FITZWATER
KAUFMAN
GRAY
HOLIDAY
FIRESTONE
KILBERG
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments directly to Dan McGroarty no later than
1:00 p.m. on Monday, 06/22, with a copy to this office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
Please Hements. see
p.1,7,9,
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Thank you
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Draft 1
June 19, 1992
2 JUN 19 P1:57
1:45 p.m.
[GI]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS
THE ROSE GARDEN
JUNE 25, 1992
10:15 A.M.
[Acknowledgements.]
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same dreams
all of us have. They want their kids to have a first-class
education. They know that a good education is absolutely
essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: ["At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in the
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around.' "]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for [Javon]
-- creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
low-income families so they could attend non-religious private
schools. Governor Thompson and Representative Williams wanted to
see what would happen when children of poorer families have more
2
of the same choices of schools that people with money already
have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of families and
the number of choices -- including religious schools -- that low-
income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
authorize the spending of half billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
of middle and low-income families so they can have more of the
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
We have done this before and it has worked. We called it the GI
Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill -- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
3
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it;
at the end of World War II, only five percent of Americans had a
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
The consumer power it gave veterans -- dollars to spend at the
college of their choice -- helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world.
We can do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children -- to create
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
gave veterans consumer power that helped create the best system
of higher education in the world, the federal government should
help state and local governments and the private sector give
children of middle and low-income families consumer power that
can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools in
the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, if our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a half
billion of dollars to help a number of state and local
4
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle and low-
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create $1,000 dollar scholarships for every child
of a family who makes less than the national median family
income, which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four. If
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
families.
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted -- must be permitted -- to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area -- public, private, and religious -- to participate if
they choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
5
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
$1,000 dollar scholarships to all of the middle and low-income
children in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton.
This is enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out
what happens when children with families with less money have
more of the same choices of schools that people with money have.
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America. It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks. Let me talk about some of those concerns:
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools -- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
6
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard Congress
suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and guaranteed
student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal tax
payers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private, or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2. Some will say letting parents choose will leave some
children behind -- I simply do not buy this idea that someone
cannot make a good decision just because he or she is poor. That
is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care vouchers for
poor families or when we proposed that the poor own their homes.
Let the poor own their own home, choose their own schools. Give
them help in standing on their own two feet and building and
climbing their own ladder so that they can grab a share of the
American Dream.
3. Some believe that letting parents choose private schools
will hurt public schools -- I believe the opposite will happen.
Look at what has happened to colleges and universities over the
last half century as a result of the enormous consumer power made
available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and student loans.
80 per cent of our college students attend public universities
7
and our public and private colleges together have become the best
in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.]
And I hope that he sees that this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about $45
million, 90% of the grant, would probably go to the education of
children in the public schools. This would roughly double the
amount of federal aid from the Department of Education to the
Milwaukee public schools.
4. Some will say choice could be the door to racial
discrimination -- so that there can be no question about this, I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal anti-
discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government can not afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many times
that money alone is not the answer to our education problems.
The U.S. already spends more per student for schools than any
country in the world except Switzerland. We need revolutions,
not more money for more of the same.
me When we ralk about revolutionary change, we're talking about empowriment-
giving Parents The power over Their children's education. And Strong schools
Must establish have Support from The entire community -not just The government or the education
8
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families can
spend to create opportunity and change our schools. It is an
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this revolution
is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choice. In San Antonio,
the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million dollars in vouchers
for up to half of any child's school tuition, up to a maximum of
750 dollars. The program will serve 840 children, with over
1,000 children on a waiting list. In California, a proposed
ballot initiative would provide a voucher scholarship for every
school age child in the state. Scholarships could be redeemed at
any public or private school that chooses to participate. In
Vermont, school boards have sent children to private schools for
75 years. The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in
Derry, is a private school with most of its students paid for by
area school boards.
9
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form of new
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access to
the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions.
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. [Janette
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids -- or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together. That's why I have repeatedly called on all Americans to imitate the example of
Those Points The of Light in Communities across The country: The neighborhood groups, The business parmership
parents with whom I met this morning know that America and The
individual
Tutors and
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles down are
mentors who
helping
TO Create
excellent schools
I see some of Tem
here This morning.
10
smokestacks and capture a 4.5 million ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind of
country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want them to have.
That changing our schools will require several revolutions
at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten year community-by-
community strategy to reach those goals called AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools--
so students have choices among the best schools of the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a voluntary
system of national examinations -- call them American Achievement
Tests -- so parents and communities can tell how their kids and
schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers'
backs. Teachers don't need a federal recipe book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local GI Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer power --
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice -- give them
muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
11
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing. We should remember the problems we have are not
different than the problems people are having in every country in
the world today. We should also remember that we have more
capacity to solve our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have remembered
what is most important to us, the principles that have bound us
together, our most enduring values. We have no principles more
important than freedom, opportunity and choice. We have no value
more enduring than the idea that every American should have the
opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
# # #
Draft 1
June 19, 1992
02 JUN 19 P : 57
1:45 p.m.
[GI]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS
THE ROSE GARDEN
JUNE 25, 1992
10:15 A.M.
[Acknowledgements.]
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same dreams
all of us have. They want their kids to have a first-class
education. They know that a good education is absolutely
essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: ["At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in the
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around. "]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for [Javon]
-- creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
low-income families so they could attend non-religious private
schools. Governor Thompson and Representative Williams wanted to
see what would happen when children of poorer families have more
2
of the same choices of schools that people with money already
have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of families and
the number of choices -- including religious schools -- that low-
income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
should take
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
credit to
authorize the spending of half billion new federal dollars to
back
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
1989
of middle and low-income families so they can have more of the
Conference
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
We have done this before and it has worked. We called it the GI
Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill -- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
3
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it;
at the end of World War II, only five percent of Americans had a
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
The consumer power it gave veterans -- dollars to spend at the
college of their choice -- helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world.
We can do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children -- to create
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
gave veterans consumer power that helped create the best system
of higher education in the world, the federal government should
help state and local governments and the private sector give
children of middle and low-income families consumer power that
can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools in
the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, if our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a half
billion of dollars to help a number of state and local
4
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle and low-
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create $1,000 dollar scholarships for every child
of a family who makes less than the national median family
income, which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four. If
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
families.
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
too
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
detailed
families would be permitted -- must be permitted -- to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area -- public, private, and religious -- to participate if
they choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
5
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
$1,000 dollar scholarships to all of the middle and low-income
children in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton.
This is enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out
what happens when children with families with less money have
more of the same choices of schools that people with money have.
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America. It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks. Let me talk about some of those concerns:
I
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools -- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
6
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard Congress
suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and guaranteed
student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal tax
payers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private, or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2. Some will say letting parents choose will leave some
children behind -- I simply do not buy this idea that someone
cannot make a good decision just because he or she is poor. That
defension
is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care vouchers for
poor families or when we proposed that the poor own their homes.
Let the poor own their own home, choose their own schools. Give
them help in standing on their own two feet and building and
climbing their own ladder so that they can grab a share of the
American Dream.
3. Some believe that letting parents choose private schools
will hurt public schools -- I believe the opposite will happen.
Look at what has happened to colleges and universities over the
last half century as a result of the enormous consumer power made
available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and student loans.
80 per cent of our college students attend public universities
7
and our public and private colleges together have become the best
in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.]
And I hope that he sees that this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about $45
million, 90% of the grant, would probably go to the education of
children in the public schools. This would roughly double the
amount of federal aid from the Department of Education to the
Milwaukee public schools.
4. Some will say choice could be the door to racial
discrimination -- so that there can be no question about this, I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal anti-
vaise
discrimination laws.
this.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government can not afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many times
that money alone is not the answer to our education problems.
The U.S. already spends more per student for schools than any
country in the world except Switzerland. We need revolutions,
not more money for more of the same.
8
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families can
spend to create opportunity and change our schools. It is an
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this revolution
is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choice. In San Antonio,
the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million dollars in vouchers
for up to half of any child's school tuition, up to a maximum of
750 dollars. The program will serve 840 children, with over
1,000 children on a waiting list. In California, a proposed
ballot initiative would provide a voucher scholarship for every
school age child in the state. Scholarships could be redeemed at
any public or private school that chooses to participate. In
Vermont, school boards have sent children to private schools for
75 years. The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in
Derry, is a private school with most of its students paid for by
area school boards.
9
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form of new
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access to
the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. [Janette
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids -- or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles down
10
smokestacks and capture a 4.5 million ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind of
country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want them to have.
That changing our schools will require several revolutions
at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten year community-by-
community strategy to reach those goals called AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools
so students have choices among the best schools of the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a voluntary
system of national examinations -- call them American Achievement
Tests -- so parents and communities can tell how their kids and
schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers'
backs. Teachers don't need a federal recipe book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local GI Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer power --
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice -- give them
muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
11
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing. We should remember the problems we have are not
different than the problems people are having in every country in
the world today. We should also remember that we have more
capacity to solve our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have remembered
what is most important to us, the principles that have bound us.
together, our most enduring values. We have no principles more
important than freedom, opportunity and choice. We have no value
more enduring than the idea that every American should have the
opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 22, 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR DAN McGROARTY
FROM:
ROGER B. PORTER RBP
SUBJECT:
Presidential Remarks: G.I. Bill for Kids
We have reviewed the attached remarks and have noted several
suggested changes on the draft.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if we may
help in any other way.
CC: Phillip D. Brady
Document No. 334268
JMH
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
RN
06/22
-CK
DATE: 06/19/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 1:00 p.m. Monday
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G. I. BILL FOR KIDS, 06/25
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
HORNER
SKINNER
MCBRIDE
SCOWCROFT
MOORE
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BRADY
PORTER
BROMLEY
SMITH
CALIO
YEUTTER
FINDLAY
DEMAREST
MCGROARTY
FITZWATER
KAUFMAN
GRAY
HOLIDAY
FIRESTONE
KILBERG
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments directly to Dan McGroarty no later than
1:00 p.m. on Monday, 06/22, with a copy to this office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Draft 1
June 19, 1992
2 JUN 19 P1:57
1:45 p.m.
[GI]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS
THE ROSE GARDEN
JUNE 25, 1992
10:15 A.M.
[Acknowledgements.]
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same dreams
all of us have. They want their kids to have a first-class
education. They know that a good education is absolutely
essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: ["At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in the
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around. "]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for [Javon]
-- creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
low-income families so they could CAN attend non-religious private
schools. PROVIDE Governor Thompson and Representative Williams wanted to
see what would happen when children of poorer families have more I
WITH
2 WEALTHIER
of the same choices of schools that V people with money already
have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of familiesV and
AVAILABLE
TO
the number of choicesY -- including religious schools -- that low-
income Milwaukee families have have.
REPRESENT
THE EFFORTS TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO EDUCATION SYSTEM
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
REFEAT my CAU FOR
TO
Today I am I proposing that the federal government join that
TRANSMITTING TO
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
authorize the spending of V half billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
of middle and low-income families so they can have more of the
ABOUT WHICH SCHOOL THEIR CHILD WILL ATTENDO
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
We have done this before and it has worked. We called it the GI
Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill -- the
college of our choice.
A
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
3
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it(p
= at the end of World War II, only five percent of Americans had a
HELPED PROVIDE TRAINING FOR
OUR COUNTRY'S
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
FREEDOM POWER
The consumer power it gave veterans -- dollars to spend at the
WORLD'S
college of their choice -- helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world world.
[mo
We can do it again.
phrase Coup
Now that that I the Cold War is over/ I am calling on America to
NAR now is SOVER IT "UKE
he THE
create new state and local GI bills for children -- to create
MAKES
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
AN DEMONSTRAT NOTRATION
POWER
gave veterans consumer power that helped create the best system
&
of higher education in the world, the federal government should
PROVIDE
help state and local governments and the private sector give
children of I middle and low-income families consumer power that
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHOICES
WORLD'S
can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools IN
the world wor J.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks If if our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a half
billion of dollars to help a number of state and local
4
CAN WE
STATE THIS
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle and low-
1DEA NN A
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
MORE
POSITIVE
or secondary school.
MANNER?
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
AWK.
like Milwaukee create $1,000 dollar scholarships for every child
of a family who makes less than the national median family
income, which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four. If
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
families
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
INSERT
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
FROM
P.5
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
STET
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
DELETE
REDUNDANT.
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted -- must be permitted -- to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area -- public, private, and religious -- to participate if
they choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars SCHOLARSHIP
for other academic DURING programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
5
ELEMENTS
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
SPEAK WITH
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
MOVE TO
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
: ND of
iRST FULL
$1,000 dollar scholarships to all of the middle and low-income
F ON
PAGE 4.
children in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton.
This is enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out
REDUNDANT
what happens when children with families with less money have
more of the same choices of schools that people with money have.
AM CONFIDENT
I believe THE know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full-time four year college students now have.
FRESDOM OWER
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America. It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks. Let me talk about some of those concerns:
INITIATIVE DOES NOT ADEQUATELY SEPARATE
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools -- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
6
SEEN MEMBERS of
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea RECEIVING or Fisk. I haven't heard Congress
suggesting that ATTEND students stop taking Pell grants and guaranteed
student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal tax
payers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private, or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2. Some will say letting parents choose will leave some
children behind -- I simply do not buy this idea that someone
cannot make a good decision just because he or she is poor. That
is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care vouchers for
poor families or when we proposed that the poor own their homes.
Let the poor own their own home, choose their own schools. Give
them help in standing on their own two feet and building and
climbing their own ladder so that they can grab a share of the
American Dream.
3. Some believe that letting parents choose private schools
will hurt public schools -- I believe the opposite will happen.
Look at what has happened to colleges and universities over the
last half century as a result of the enormous FUNDS consumer power made
available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and student loans.
80 per cent of our college students attend public universities
7
and our public and private colleges together have become the best
in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.]
And I hope that he sees that this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about $45
million, 90% of the grant, would probably go to the education of
children in the public schools. This would roughly double the
amount of federal aid from the Department of Education to the-
Milwaukee public schools.
4. Some will say choice could be the door to racial
discrimination -- so that there can be no question about this, I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal anti-
discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government can not afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many times
that money alone is not the answer to our education problems.
The U.S. already spends more per student for schools than any
country in the world except Switzerland. We need revolutions,
not more money for more of the same.
8
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families can
spend I create opportunity and change Vour schools. It is an
IN
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this revolution
is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choice. In San Antonio,
the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million dollars in vouchers
for up to half of any child's school tuition, up to a maximum of
750 dollars. The program will serve 840 children, with over
1,000 children on a waiting list. In California, a proposed
ballot initiative would provide a voucher scholarship for every
school age child in the state. Scholarships could be redeemed at
any public or private school that chooses to participate. In
Vermont, school boards have sent children to private schools for
75 years. The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in
Derry, is a private school with most of its students paid for by
area school boards.
9
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form of new
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access to
the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
Awk.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions.
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. [Janette
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids -- or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
ACHIEVE ITS GREATEST ASPIRATIONSO
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles down
10
smokestacks and capture a 4.5 million ton satellite in space, I we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That I we must change our schools to be the kind of
=
To PROVIDE OUR
WITH
A PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING
country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want them to have
That 9 changing our schools will require several revolutions
at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten year community-by-
community strategy to reach those goals called AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools
so students have choices among the best schools of the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a voluntary
system of national examinations -- call them American Achievement
Tests -- so parents and communities can tell how their kids and
schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers'
THE
backs. Teachers don't need & federal recipe book.
GOVERNMENT DICTATINE THEIR EVERY LESSON.
STET
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local GI Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer power FREEDOM
STET
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice -- give them
muscle to help their kids, J to make all schools better.
11
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
CHALLENGES FACE
changing. We should remember the problems we have are not
THOSE
different than the problems people are having in every country in
the world today. We should also remember that we have more
FIND SOLUTIONS TO THESE CHALLENGES
capacity to solve our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have remembered
what is most important to us, the principles that have bound us.
together, our most enduring values. We have no principles more
important than freedom, opportunity and choice. We have no value
more enduring than the idea that every American should have the
opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and I cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
WEALTHIER
with less money that children from families with money I already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
# # #
Document No.
334268
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
06/22
DATE: 06/19/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 1:00 p.m. Monday
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G. I. BILL FOR KIDS, 06/25
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
HORNER
SKINNER
MCBRIDE
SCOWCROFT
MOORE
DARMAN
)
PETERSMEYER
BRADY
PORTER
BROMLEY
SMITH
CALIO
YEUTTER
FINDLAY
DEMAREST
MCGROARTY
FITZWATER
KAUFMAN
GRAY
HOLIDAY
FIRESTONE
KILBERG
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments directly to Dan McGroarty no later than
1:00 p.m. on Monday, 06/22, with a copy to this office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
Timmins
PHILLIP D. BRADY 23/815-1084
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Draft 1
June 19, 1992
.2 JUN 19 Pl: 57
1:45 p.m.
[GI]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS
THE ROSE GARDEN
JUNE 25, 1992
10:15 A.M.
[Acknowledgements.]
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same dreams
all of us have. They want their kids to have a first-class
education. They know that a good education is absolutely
essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: ["At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in the
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around."]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for [Javon]
-- creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
low-income families so they could attend non-religious private
schools. Governor Thompson and Representative Williams wanted to
see what would happen when children of poorer families have more
2
of the same choices of schools that people with money already
have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of families and
the number of choices -- including religious schools -- that low-
income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
a
authorize the spending of half billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
of middle and low-income families so they can have more of the
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
We have done this before and it has worked. We called it the GI
Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill -- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
3
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it;
at the end of World War II, only five percent of Americans had a
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
qui
The consumer power it gave veterans -- dollars to spend at the
college of their choice -- helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world.
We can do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children -- to create
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
gave veterans consumer power that helped create the best system
of higher education in the world, the federal government should
help state and local governments and the private sector give
children of middle and low-income families consumer power that
can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools in
the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, if our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a half
billion of dollars to help a number of state and local
4
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle and low-
income children could
spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create
$1,000 dollar scholarships for every child
of a family who makes less than the national median family
income, which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four.
If
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
families.
Milwaukee-could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted -- must be permitted -- to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area -- public, private, and religious -- to participate if
they choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
migrostant
dis connect
5
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
buk.
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
$1,000 dollar scholarships to all of the middle and low-income
children in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton.
[
This is enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out
what happens when children with families with less money have
Jank
more of the same choices of schools that people with money have.
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America.
It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks.
Let me talk about some of those concerns:
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools -- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
6
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard Congress
suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and guaranteed
student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal tax
payers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private, or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of teaching helping the
child.
2. Some will say letting parents choose will leave some
poorly
children behind -- I simply do not buy this idea that someone
articulated
cannot make a good decision just because he or she is poor
That
is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care vouchers for
poor families or when we proposed that the poor own their homes.
Let the poor own their own home, choose their own schools. Give
them help in standing on their own two feet and building and
climbing their own ladder so that they can grab a share of the
American Dream.
3. Some believe that letting parents choose private schools
will hurt public schools -- I believe the opposite will happen.
Look at what has happened to colleges and universities over the
last half century as a result of the enormous consumer power made
available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and student loans.
80 per cent of our college students attend public universities
7
and our public and private colleges together have become the best
in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.
1
And I hope that he sees that this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about $45
million, 90% of the grant, would probably go to the education of
children in the public schools. This would roughly double the
amount of federal aid from the Department of Education to the
Milwaukee public schools.
4. Some will say choice could be the door to racial
discrimination -- so that there can be no question about this, I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal anti-
discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First,
I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government can not afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many times
that money alone is not the answer to our education problems.
The U.S. already spends more per student for schools than any
country in the world except Switzerland. We need revolutions,
not more money for more of the same.
8
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families can
spend to create opportunity and change our schools. It is an
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this revolution
is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choice. In San Antonio,
the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million dollars in vouchers
for up to half of any child's school tuition, up to a maximum of
750 dollars. The program will serve 840 children, with over
1,000 children on a waiting list. In California, a proposed
ballot initiative would provide a voucher scholarship for every
school age child in the state. Scholarships could be redeemed at
any public or private school that chooses to participate. In
Vermont, school boards have sent children to private schools for
75 years. The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in
Derry, is a private school with most of its students paid for by
area school boards.
9
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form of new
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access to
the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. [Janette
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids -- or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles down
10
smokestacks and capture a 4.5 million ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind of
country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want them to have.
That changing our schools will require several revolutions
at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten year community-by-
community strategy to reach those goals called AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools--
so students have choices among the best schools of the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a voluntary
system of national examinations -- call them American Achievement
Tests -- so parents and communities can tell how their kids and
schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers'
backs. Teachers don't need a federal recipe book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local GI Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer power --
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice -- give them
muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
11
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing. We should remember the problems we have are not
different than the problems people are having in every country in
the world today. We should also remember that we have more
capacity to solve our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have remembered
what is most important to us, the principles that have bound us.
together, our most enduring values. We have no principles more
important than freedom, opportunity and choice. We have no value
more enduring than the idea that every American should have the
opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
# # #
unmarked
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING REQUEST
copy
Subject
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS, JUNE 25
MONDAY, JUNE 22
Date/Time Received:
RESPONSE DUE:
6/19/92 6:15 P.M.
12:30 P.M.
Response due to Director's Office Support Group, Room 254, Ext. 3060.
Please respond to every staffing request, even if you have no- comment.
Distribution Within OMB
Action
FYI
Action
FYI
Director
X
Howard, R.
Deputy Director
Legis. Affairs
Dep. Dir./Mgmt.
MacRae, J.
Martin, B.
X
Al-Samarrie, A.
Mazur, E.
X
Anderson, B.
Murr, J.
X
Burman, A.
Rockefeller, N. X
Dale, E.
X
Scully, T.
X
Damus, R.
(Other)
Gen. Mgmt. Div.
X
Grady, R.
Hale, J.
—
Comments:
S
Scully Scully/OMB
Document No.
334268
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
06/22
DATE: 06/19/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: 1:00 p.m. Monday
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G. I. BILL FOR KIDS, 06/25
SUBJECT:
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
HORNER
SKINNER
MCBRIDE
SCOWCROFT
MOORE
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BRADY
PORTER
BROMLEY
SMITH
CALIO
YEUTTER
FINDLAY
DEMAREST
MCGROARTY
FITZWATER
KAUFMAN
GRAY
HOLIDAY
FIRESTONE
KILBERG
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments directly to Dan McGroarty no later than
1:00 p.m. on Monday, 06/22, with a copy to this office. Thanks.
RESPONSE:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Draft 1
June 19, 1992
2 JUN19 P1:57
1:45 p.m.
[GI]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: G.I. BILL FOR KIDS
THE ROSE GARDEN
JUNE 25, 1992
10:15 A.M.
[Acknowledgements.]
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same dreams
all of us have. They want their kids to have a first-class
education. They know that a good education is absolutely
essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: ["At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in the
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around."]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for [Javon]
-- creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
low-income families so they could attend non-religious private
schools. Governor Thompson and Representative Williams wanted to
see what would happen when children of poorer families have more
2
kids from higher income
families
of the same choices of schools that people with money already
have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of families and
the number of choices -- including religious schools -- that low-
income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
the private sector
supporting
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
7
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
authorize the spending of half billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
other kids in other communities
of middle and low-income families so they can have more of the
can have the
Chigher mcome
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
We have done this before and it has worked. We called it the GI
Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill -- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
3
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
The GI bill
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it;
at the end of World War II, only five percent of Americans had a
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
The consumer power it gave veterans -- dollars to spend at the
college of their choice -- helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world.
We can do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children -- to create
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
gave veterans consumer power that helped create the best system
of higher education in the world, the federal government should
help state and local governments and the private sector give
children of middle and low-income families education consumer power that
can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools in
the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, if our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a half
billion of dollars to help a number of state and local
4
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle and low-
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create $1,000 dollar scholarships for every child
410 th
of a family who makes less than the national median family
of
income, which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four. If
the
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
families.
For example
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted -- must be permitted -- to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area -- public, private, and religious -- to participate if
they choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
5
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
$1,000 dollar scholarships to all of the middle and low-income
children in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton.
This is enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out
what happens when children with families with less money have
1
more of the same choices of schools that people with money have.
Think I know
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America. It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks. Let me talk about some of those concerns:
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools -- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
6
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard Congress
suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and guaranteed
student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
have their
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal tax
payers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private, or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2. Some will say letting parents choose will leave some
children behind -- I simply do not buy this idea that someone
cannot make a good decision just because he or she is poor. That
is the same thing I heard when we proposed child day care vouchers for
low income
poor families or when we proposed that the poor own their homes.
families
Find their own child care,
Let the poor own their own home, choose their own schools. Give
them help in standing on their own two feet and building and
climbing their own ladder so that they can grab a share of the
American Dream.
3. Some believe that letting parents choose private schools
will hurt public schools -- I believe the opposite will happen.
Look at what has happened to colleges and universities over the
last half century as a result of the enormous consumer power made
available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and student loans.
80 per cent of our college students attend public universities
7
and our public and private colleges together have become the best
in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.]
And I hope that he sees that this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about $45
million 90% of the grant, would might probably go to the education of
children in the public schools. This would roughly double the
amount of federal aid from the Department of Education to the
Milwaukee public schools, -- but it for world also schools. enhance competition
good
4. Some will say choice could be the door to racial
discrimination -- so that there can be no question about this, I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal anti-
discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government can not afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many times
that money alone is not the answer to our education problems.
The U.S. already spends more per student for schools than any
country in the world except Switzerland. We need revolutions,
not more money for more of the same.
8
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle and low-income families can
spend to create opportunity and change our schools. It is an
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this revolution
is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choice. In San Antonio,
the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million dollars in vouchers
for up to half of any child's school tuition, up to a maximum of
750 dollars. The program will serve 840 children, with over
1,000 children on a waiting list. In California, a proposed
ballot initiative would provide a voucher scholarship for every
school age child in the state. Scholarships could be redeemed at
any public or private school that chooses to participate. In
Vermont, school boards have sent children to private schools for
75 years. The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in
Derry, is a private school with most of its students paid for by
area school boards.
9
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form of new
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access to
the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions.
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. [Janette
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids -- or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles down
10
smokestacks and capture a 4.5 million ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind of
country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want them to have.
That changing our schools will require several revolutions
at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten year community-by-
community strategy to reach those goals called AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools--
so students have choices among the best schools of the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a voluntary
system of national examinations -- call them American Achievement
Tests -- so parents and communities can tell how their kids and
schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers'
backs. Teachers don't need a federal recipe book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local GI Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer power --
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice -- give them
muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
11
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing. We should remember the problems we have are not
different than the problems people are having in every country in
the world today. We should also remember that we have more
capacity to solve our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have remembered
what is most important to us, the principles that have bound us
together, our most enduring values. We have no principles more
important than freedom, opportunity and choice. We have no value
more enduring than the idea that every American should have the
opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
# # #
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:35AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 2
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
DRAFT
DRAFT
IN CONNECTION WITH STATE AND LOCAL 92 JUN 19 All: On
GI BILL FOR CHILDREN
"D"
(DRAFT 17 June '92)
(President would make these first few paragraphs of these
comments extemporaneously based upon what he sees and hears at
the working session with Milwaukee citizens.)
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same
dreams all of us have. They want their kids to have a
first-class education. They know that a good education is
absolutely essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what [Janette Williams] told me about her son [Javon
Williams]: [At his old school that was crowded, he used to get
so bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around. "]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
1
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 10:35AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 3
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for
[Javon]- -- creating $2,500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee
children from low-income families so they could attend
non-religious private schools. Governor Thompson and
Representative Williams wanted to see what would happen when
children of poor families have more of the same choices of
schools that people with money already have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of families and
the number of choices- including religious schools- that low-
income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
revolution. I am sending Congress legislation that would
authorize the spending of a half-billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
of middle- and low-income families, so they can have more of the
same choices of all schools that families with money already
have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
2
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:36AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 4
We have done this before and it has worked.
We called it the GI Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill-- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had it;
at the end of World War II, only 5 per cent of Americans had a
college degree. It gave our country a new generation of leaders.
The consumer power it gave veterans--dollars to spend at the
college of their choice--helped to create the best system of
colleges and universities in the world.
We can do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children-- to create
scholarships for children of middle- and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
3
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:36AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 5
gave veterans consumer power that helped to create the best
system of higher education in the world, the federal government
should help state and local governments and the private sector
give children of middle- and low-income families consumer power
than can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools
in the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, if our astronauts
can capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, then we can create the
best schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a
half-billion dollars to help a number of state and local
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle- and low-
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create $1,000 scholarships for every child of a
family who makes less than the national median family income,
which is roughly $40,000 a year for a family of four
If
Milwaukee applied for a grant to fund its own GI Bill for
4
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:37AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 6
Children, it could receive $50 million, enough to provide
scholarships for 50,000 children from middle- and low-income
L
families.
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted--must be permitted-- to spend the
$1,000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area--public, private, and religious--to participate if they
choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
5
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 10:37AM ;
4562983->
2024566218;# 7
There is enough federal money in my pro al to provide
$1,000 scholarships to all of the middle-and low-income children
in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton. This is
enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out what
happens when children with families with less money have more of
the same choices schools that people with money have.
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America.
It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks.
Let me talk about some of those concerns:
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard
Congress suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and
guaranteed student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
6
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:37AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 8
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal
taxpayers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private or religious. We should
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2.
Some will say letting parents choose schools will
leave some children behind- I simply do not buy this idea that
someone cannot make a good decision just because he or she is
poor. That is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care
vouchers for poor families, or when we proposed that the poor own
their own homes. Let the poor own their own home, choose their
own schools. Give them help in standing on their own two feet
and building and climbing their own ladder so that they can
grab a share of the American Dream.
3.
Some believe that letting parents choose private
schools will hurt public schools-- I believe the opposite will
happen. Look at what has happened to colleges and universities
over the last half century as a result of the enormous consumer
power made available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and
student loans. 80 per cent of our college students attend
public universities and our public and private colleges together
7
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:38AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 9
have become the best in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice. ]
And I hope that [he] sees that this proposal for federal help for
a GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public schools. If Milwaukee applied for and
received a grant to fund its own GI Bill for Children, about 45
JR
million dollars, 90% of the grant, would probably go to the
education of children in the public schools. This would roughly
double the amount of federal aid from the Department of Education
to the Milwaukee public schools.
4. Some will say choice could open the door to racial
discrimination. So that there can be no question about this,
I have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal
anti-discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government cannot afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many
times that money alone is not the answer to our education
problems. The U.S. already spends morep er student for schools
than any country in the world except Switzerland. We need
8
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:38AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:#10
revolutions, not more money for more of the same.
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle-and low-income families can
create opportunity and change our schools. It is an appropriate
and promising method of federal support for education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this
revolution is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, the Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choice.
In San Antonio, the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million
dollars in vouchers for up to half of any child's school tuition,
up to a maximum of 750 dollars. The program will serve 840
children, with over 1,000 children on a waiting list.
In California, a proposed ballot initiative would provide a
voucher scholarship for every school age child in the state.
Scholarships could be redeemed at any public or private school
that chooses to participate.
9
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4562983-
2024566218;#11
In Vermont, school boards have sent children to private
schools for 75 years.
The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in Derry,
is a private school with most of its students paid for by area
school boards.
Overall, in 1991, ten states approved some form of new
choice legislation, and 37 states had choice legislation pending
in one form or another.
Instead of thinking just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to on specific
school, it is time we began thinking of a system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access
to the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing.
[Janette
10
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:39AM ;
4562983-
2024566218:#12
Williams] and the parents I visited with this morning know what
was enough education for them isn't enough for their kids--or
for them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles
down smokestacks and capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind
of country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of. life they want to them to have.
That changing our schools will require several
revolutions at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten
year-community-by-community strategy to reach those goals called
11
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:40AM ;
4562983-
20245662181#13
AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools--
so students have choices among the best schools in the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a
voluntary system of national examinations-- call them American
Achievement Tests-- so parents and communities can tell how
their kids and schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers
backs. Teachers don't need a federal recipe book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local Gi Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer
power- dollars to spend at the schools of their choice---give
them muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing.
We should remembe the problems we have are not different
than the problems people are having in every country in the world
12
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 6-19-92 :10:40AM ;
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20245662181#14
today.
We should also remember that we have more capacity to solve
our problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American
Dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have
remembered what is most important to us, the principles that have
bound us together, our most enduring values.
We have no principles more important than freedom,
opportunity and choice.
We have no value more enduring that the idea that every
American should have the opportunity for a first class education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
13
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American revolution or expand the American dream.
###
14
Thank thern:
we reman
committed:
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
DRAFT
IN CONNECTION WITH STATE AND LOCAL
D
DRAFT
GI BILL FOR CHILDREN
(DRAFT 17 June '92)
(President would make these first few paragraphs of these
comments extemporaneously based upon what he sees and hears at
the working session with Milwaukee citizens.)
I have just come from a working session with parents from
Milwaukee. Their dreams for their children are the same
dreams all of us have. They want their kids to have a
first-class education. They know that a good education is
absolutely essential to making a good living, making a good life.
Here is what Janette Williams told me about her son Javon
Williams: [At his old school that was crowded, he used to get so
bored he would walk out. Thanks to the choice program in
Milwaukee he's at a new school. He's not doing those things any
more, he's doing his homework and even helping clean up the
classroom after school. They took the energy and turned it
around. "]
Governor Tommy Thompson and state Representative Polly
Williams were also in our working session. They have taken the
2
lead in helping [Janette Williams] realize her dreams for
[Javon]- - - creating $2500 scholarships for 1,000 Milwaukee
children from low-income families so they could attend
non-religious private schools. Governor Thompson and
Representative Williams wanted to see what would happen when
children of poor families have more of the same choices of
1
schools that people with money already have.
Representatives of the Bradley Foundation and several other
Milwaukee businesses were also in our meeting. They recently
pledged $3 million to expand further the number of number of
families and the number choices--including religious
2
schools- that low-income Milwaukee families have.
What has been happening in Milwaukee is truly a revolution
in American education.
??
Today I am proposing that the federal government join that
revolution I am sending Congress legislation that would
authorize the spending of a half billion new federal dollars to
help cities like Milwaukee give $1,000 scholarships to children
of middle- and low-income families so they can have more of the
same choices of all schools that families with money already
3 have.
This revolution is in the greatest American tradition.
3
We have done this before and it has worked.
We called it the GI Bill.
As World War II was coming to a close, 48 years ago this
week, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill
creating scholarships that veterans could spend at any college.
Most of my generation went to college on the GI Bill-- the
college of our choice.
Diane Ravitch, the historian who is now our assistant
secretary of education, says that the GI Bill "was the most
successful piece of social legislation in our nation's history."
It created opportunity for Americans who never would have had
it; at the end of Worlds War II, only 5 per cent of Americans
had a college degree. It gave our country a new generation of
leaders. The consumer power it gave veterans--dollars to spend
at the college of their choice--helped to create the best system
of colleges and universities in the world.
what?
We can do it again.
Now that the Cold War is over, I am calling on America to
create new state and local GI bills for children- to create
scholarships for children of middle- and low-income families that
their families can use at the school of their choice. Just as we
gave veterans consumer power that helped to create the best
4
system of higher education in the world, the federal government
should help state and local governments and the private sector
give children of middle- and low-income families consumer power
than can help to create the best elementary and secondary schools
in the world.
These dollars to spend at the schools of their choice become
the muscle parents need to create the best schools for their
children.
If we can put missiles down smokestacks, if our astronauts
can capture a satellite in space, then we can create the best
schools in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Specifically, I have asked Congress to appropriate a
half billion dollars to help a number of state and local
governments create $1,000 scholarships that middle- and low-
income children could spend at any lawfully operating elementary
or secondary school.
For example, these new federal dollars would help a city
like Milwaukee create $1,000 scholarships for every child of a
family who makes less than the median family income, which is
about $40,000 a year. In Milwaukee, this would mean that about
23,000 children- or about 70 per cent of all the children in
Milwaukee- would receive $1,000 scholarships.
5
Milwaukee could compete for the federal dollars in a
demonstration grant with other state or local governmental units.
There are only three conditions. First, in order to apply, the
governmental unit would have to take substantial steps to provide
a choice of schools to families within its jurisdiction. Second,
families would be permitted--must be permitted to spend the
$1000 federal scholarship at any participating school that they
believe best meets the needs of their child. Third, the
governmental unit must allow all lawfully operating schools in
the area--public, private, and religious-- to participate if they
choose.
The legislation that I am transmitting to Congress today
also permits parents to use up to half of the thousand dollars
for other academic programs that might be offered after school,
or on Saturdays, or in the summers. I believe this is one of the
most powerful parts of the legislation. One of our greatest
wastes is that our schools are closed so much of the time when
children could be using them. Many of the educators I see
believe if they could offer academic programs in the afternoon or
on Saturday children would flock to them. This is our chance to
find out.
There is enough federal money in my proposal to provide
$1,000 scholarships to all of the middle-and low-income children
in Milwaukee and 45 other cities the size of Trenton. This is
enough money for a good demonstration grant, to find out what
6
happens when children with families with less money have more of
Q
the same choices of schools that people with money have.
I believe I know exactly what will happen. We know because
of our experience with the GI Bill. We know because of our
experience with federal grants and loans for college, which one
of every two full time four year college students now have.
Consumer power creates opportunity and better schools for all
students.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for children would
be a truly revolutionary change for elementary and secondary
education in America. It causes controversy and concern because
it takes some risks. Let me talk about some of those concerns:
1. Some will say this mixes up church and state because it
permits government money to go to religious schools- that is
wrong. This is aid to families, not aid to institutions. It is
also good policy. No one told the GIs they couldn't go to SMU or
Notre Dame or Yeshiva or Berea or Fisk. I haven't heard
Congress suggesting that students stop taking Pell grants and
guaranteed student loans to Baptist Colleges or even Presbyterian
seminaries. I don't hear an outcry because poor children who
attend Catholic schools get a free lunch paid for by federal
taxpayers. And I don't think Congress is about to repeal the
voucher poor mothers have that can be spent at the day care
center of their choice, public, private or religious. We should
2
let government money follow the child to any lawfully operating
school that the parent feels does the best job of helping the
child.
2.
Some will say letting parents choose schools will
leave some children behind- I simply do not buy this idea that
someone cannot make a good decision just because he or she is
poor. That is the same thing I heard when we proposed day care
vouchers for poor families, or when we proposed that the poor own
their own homes. Let the poor own their own home, choose their
own schools. Give them help in standing on their own two feet
and building and climbing their own ladder so that they can
grab a share of the American Dream.
3.
Some believe that letting parents choose private
schools will hurt public schools-- I believe the opposite will
happen. Look at what has happened to colleges and universities
over the last half century as a result of the enormous consumer
power made available by the GI Bill and the Pell grants and
student loans. 80 per cent of our college students attend
public universities and our public and private colleges together
have become the best in the world.
[I am glad that Howard Fuller, the Superintendent of
Milwaukee schools is here today. He is not afraid of choice.]
And I hope that he sees in this proposal for federal help for a
GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee can build stronger public
8
schools. Today in Milwaukee, as in most of America, 90% of
children attend public shcools. The amount of chapter one
federal support for elementary and secondary schools in Milwaukee
is 15.8 million. If Milwaukee public schools continue to attract
90% of the students as they do now, the Federal share, if
Milwaukee participated in the Gi Bill, would be $72 million.
4. Some will say choice could the door to racial
discrimination-- So that there an be no question about this
I
have put in this proposed legislation provisions of federal
anti-discrimination laws.
5. There are several points to make about money. First, I
want to make it absolutely clear this is not a new federal
entitlement program. The federal government cannot afford one
more entitlement, even for education. And I have said many
times that money alone is not the answer to our education
problems. The U.S. already spends more per student for schools
than any country in the world except Switzerland. We need
revolutions, not more money for more of the same.
But making real changes that create the best schools in the
world can require new investment. Primarily that is a state and
local responsibility. But federal support for state and local
scholarships for children of middle-and low-income families can
spend to create opportunity and change our schools and is an
appropriate and promising method of federal support for
9
education.
Milwaukee is not the only place in America this
revolution is occurring.
In 1991 in Indianapolis, th Golden Rule Insurance Company,
began to offer tuition vouchers of up to $800 to Indianapolis
students. In the first year, over 700 students were given
vouchers to attend any school of their choosing.
In San Antonio, the CEO Foundation has earmarked 1.5 million
dollars in vouchers for up to half of any child's school tuition,
up to a maximum of 750 dollars. The program will serve 840
children, with over 1,000 children on a waiting list.
In California, a proposed ballot initiative would provide a
voucher scholarship for every school age child in the state.
Scholarships could be redeemed at any public or private school
that chooses to participate.
In Vermont, school boards have sent children to private
schools for 75 years.
The second largest high school in New Hampshire, in Derry,
is a private school with most of its students paid for by area
school boards.
10
Instead of thinking-just of public schools run by one single
provider who assigns all except wealthy children to one specific
school, it is time we began thinking of system of public
education with many providers offering a marketplace of
opportunities that give all of our children choices and access
to the best education in the world.
The GI Bill for Children in Milwaukee and in other cities
will move America inevitably in that direction.
There are risks, but we need revolutions and revolutions
carry with them risks.
We need revolutions because our world is changing. Howard
Jones and the parents I visited with this morning know what was
enough education for them isn't enough for their kids--or for
them, today. They know their children are growing up
differently. They see teachers are stymied and kids are bored
because schools are in a time warp, designed for another age.
They also know they have responsibilities to pay more
attention, check the homework, turn off the television. That
it's not just teachers, as the African proverb says, "It takes an
entire village to educate one child." We're all in this
together.
The parents with whom I met this morning know that America
can do whatever it wants to do. That if we can put missiles
down smokestacks and capture a 4.5 ton satellite in space, we
can create the best schools in the world for our children and
grandchildren. That we must change our schools to be the kind
of country we want to be, and if their children are going to have
the kind of life they want to them to have.
That changing our schools will require several
revolutions at once.
That is why with all the Governors we have created very
ambitious national education goals and a ten
year-community-by-community strategy to reach those goals called
AMERICA 2000.
Revolution No. 1 is starting over, school by school, to
create a new generation of break-the-mold New American Schools--
so students have choices among the best schools in the world.
Some 700 design teams have submitted proposals to do just that.
Revolution No. 2 is changing what we teach; helping
educators and others create world-class standards and a
voluntary system of national examinations--call them American
Achievement Tests-- so parents and communities can tell how
their kids and schools are doing.
Revolution No. 3 is getting the government off the teachers
12
backs. Teachers don't need a federal e
book.
Revolution No. 4 is our state and local Gi Bill for Children
to get parents more involved, to give them consumer
power - - dollars to spend at the schools of their choice---give
them muscle to help their kids, to make all schools better.
Many Americans are anxious today, because the world is
changing.
We should remember that our problems are different from the
problems of people in other countries in only one way.
That difference is this. We have more capacity to solve our
problems than any country in the world.
There has never been a time in our history when more
countries wanted to be like us, wanted to try our American
Dream.
We have done better realizing our dream when we have
remembered what is most important to us, the principles that have
bound us together, our most enduring values.
We have no principles more important than freedom,
opportunity and choice.
13
We have no value more enduring that the idea that every
American should have the opportunity for a first class
education.
A new system of state and local GI Bills for Children in
Milwaukee and cities and towns across America will give more of
the same opportunities for a first class education to children
with less money that children from families with money already
have.
I can think of nothing that could do more to extend the
American revolution or expand the American dream.
###
n of George Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / June 25
1139
ink it's an idea whose
his remarks, he referred to Gov. Tommy
home looking after her mother. I would sa-
Thompson of Wisconsin.
lute her values. But we miss her very, very
to do today is, just be-
much. Together, Polly and Tommy Thomp-
inounce this "GI bill"
son, the Governor, have taken the lead in
lucation, perhaps the
helping parents like Janette Williams realize
of education, is to hear
Remarks Announcing Proposed
her dreams for her son Javon, creating schol-
lexander has been our
Legislation To Establish a "GI Bill"
arships for 1,000 Milwaukee children from
eautifully into a pro-
for Children
low-income families so that they can attend
2000, which encour-
June 25, 1992
private schools. Now, theirs is a bold experi-
ment, to give low-income families more of
local, the family, the
Welcome, all. Hey, we're glad you guys
the same choices of schools already available
e heard about-and
ing to some of you all
are here. Welcome, welcome, and please be
to wealthier families.
S in Milwaukee-but
seated. All you kids, welcome to the South
Mike Joyce of the Bradley Foundation was
also in our meeting. And Bradley recently
is the enormous suc-
Lawn of the White House. And to the Vice
t I wanted to do is to
President and Mrs. Quayle and Secretary Al-
joined with other foundations and Milwaukee
the spot with all this
exander, a warm welcome. A particularly
businesses to raise $3 million so that Milwau-
warm welcome to the Members of Congress,
kee's low-income families will be able to
in an unstructured
both House and Senate, that are with us
choose their family's schools, including the
ilies.
n quickly to the Gov-
today. Welcome to all of you, our very special
religious schools. Mike told us this morning
ay anything?
guests, on this special occasion.
that parents picked up every one of the 4,500
I have just come from a working session
scholarship applications the day after the
er. Well, only this, Mr.
in the White House, working with some of
scholarships were announced, 4,500, that
the great experts on school choice. The par-
fast. And don't let anybody tell you that the
ir Secretary of Edu-
ents, I think, made the most significant con-
people of Milwaukee don't care about their
tribution to our working session because
kids' education.
er. I think Milwaukee
their dreams for their kids are the same
No one should underestimate what's at
be the pioneer here
dreams that all of us have. They want their
stake here. A revolution is underway in Mil-
partisan group in the
kids to have a first-class education. They
waukee and across this country, a revolution
have used State funds
know from practical experience that a good
to make American schools the best in the
/-income, or give low-
education is absolutely essential to making
world. I salute our Secretary of Education
choices of the schools
a good living and to making a good life.
who is helping lead that revolution, Lamar
Now you've got pri-
So let me just share a little from that meet-
Alexander.
g up and expanding
ing. Janette Williams told me about her son,
Together with the Nation's Governors,
de religious schools.
Javon. The Williamses are here with us some-
we've set six ambitious national education
r kids proposal would
where here today-whoops, here she is over
goals. And I might say that this wasn't a par-
ment into the action,
here. Her kid starred on "60 Minutes," and
tisan move; Democrats and Republicans alike
S to, give Milwaukee
that says something about the guy. If you go
of the Governors coming together to set six
it would be a $1,000
on that program and come off in one piece,
ambitious national education goals. In 44
any children, as long
he must be doing real well. [Laughter] But
States and 1,400 communities, we've already
at any school. So all
here's what she said, and this is serious. She
launched America 2000 to meet these goals.
to the public schools
said, "At his old school that was crowded,
Even earlier still, in January 1989, just be-
1 attract the children,
he used to get so bored that he would walk
fore I was sworn in as President, we helped
1 have the absolute
out. And thanks to the choice program in
organize the White House Conference on
"y, tell private schools
Milwaukee, he's at a new school. He's not
Choice in Education. We believed then and
Idren.
doing those things anymore. He's doing his
we believe today a few fundamental truths.
because I think the
homework; he's even helping clean up the
We believe that parents are their children's
achers and the school
classroom after school. They took the energy
first teachers. Parents, not bureaucrats, know
eaders are the ones
and turned it around."
what's best for their kids.
S, and I'd rather hear
Now, the Governor here, Tommy Thomp-
At this point I would like to salute one
son, the Governor of Wisconsin, is here with
of the two in purple, Barbara Bush-[laugh-
us today. I'm sorry that Polly Williams, who's
ter]-for her pointing this out to parents, that
oke at 9:20 a.m. in
been at the forefront of the school choice
it's what they do, what happens in their
the White House. In
movement, couldn't be here, but she's at
home. Barbara's done a lot of that here and
1140
June 25 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
around the country. I might say that Marilyn
school they believe will best teach their child,
Quayle's taking that same message of paren-
whether that school is public, private, or reli-
tal involvement all across our country, and
gious.
we're very grateful to her.
Let me try to be clear on this point: Ac-
So, it is our belief then that parents, not
cepting students with vouchers does not
the Government, should choose their chil-
mean a school must sacrifice school prayer.
dren's schools. So today I am proposing that
And let me say this to those who stand against
we take another giant step forward in this
extending school choice to low- and middle-
revolution. I am sending to Congress legisla-
income families: I simply do not buy the idea
tion that would authorize an ambitious dem-
that someone cannot make a good decision
onstration program, 1.5 billion new Federal
just because that person is poor. We heard
dollars to help communities all across Amer-
the same argument when we proposed child
ica give $1,000 scholarships to children of
care vouchers for low-income families or
middle- and low-income families so they can
when we proposed help for public housing
choose which schools their kids will attend.
tenants to own their own homes. So it's my
This revolution is in the greatest American
belief that we ought to let families own their
tradition. We've done it before, and it's
own home and choose their own schools re-
worked. Forty-eight years ago this very week,
gardless of their income level and give them
President Roosevelt signed the GI bill, creat-
help. Give them a shot at the American
ing scholarships that veterans could use at
dream, if you will.
any college, any college of their choice. The
Finally, to those who claim that school
GI bill created opportunity for Americans
choice will hurt the public schools, let me
who never would have had it, and in doing
underscore this point: All of this new money
so it helped create the best system of colleges
can go to public schools if that's where the
and universities in the world.
child chooses to go, where the family choose
Now we can do that again, this time by
to have the kid go. That decision will be in
helping State and local governments-and
the hands of families, where it belongs.
we're delighted the Mayor of Milwaukee is
There are several points to make about
with us; here today-this time by helping
money. First, I want to make it clear that
State and local governments create the best
we're not talking here about a new Federal
elementary and secondary schools in the
entitlement program. The Federal Govern-
world. The "GI bill" for children will help.
ment cannot afford one more entitlement,
It'll provide that help to these families. These
even for education. I've said many times that
dollars to spend at the schools of their choice
money alone isn't the answer. The United
will become the muscle that parents need
States already spends more per student for
to create the best schools for their kids.
schools than any country in the world except
Let me say to those who will attack our
Switzerland. I don't have to tell you where
school choice initiative on the ground that
we stand in the international rankings of edu-
it permits Government money to go to reli-
cational performance at the level we're talk-
gious schools, you're wrong. I believe those
ing about here today. Our universities and
critics are wrong. This is aid to the families,
colleges are respected and have achieved the
not aid to institutions. And again, if you set
highest levels of achievement. But that, un-
the clock back to the creation of that original
fortunately, is not true as we talk about K-
GI bill, no one told the GI's that they
12. So we need a revolution in American edu-
couldn't go to S.M.U. or Notre Dame or Ye-
cation, not more money to do it the same
shiva or Howard. I haven't heard Members
old way.
of Congress suggest that students stop using
Investment in our schools will remain a
Pell grants and guaranteed student loans at
primarily State and local responsibility. But
Baptist colleges or Presbyterian seminaries.
Federal support for State and local scholar-
I don't hear an outcry because poor children
ships can be a catalyst. For schools that at-
at Catholic schools get their lunch paid for
tract choice students, it will give teachers and
by Federal taxpayers. In the same way, par-
principals a welcome source of new funds.
ents must be free to use this money at the
For our children, choice can help open up
tration of George Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / June 25
1141
ve will best teach their child,
opportunities, create genuine change in our
Marilyn, and certainly our Secretary, are very
bol is public, private, or reli-
schools.
proud to stand with you.
For too long, we've shielded schools from
You see, this revolution will succeed. It will
be clear on this point: Ac-
competition, allowed our schools a damaging
succeed because it draws its strength from
with vouchers does not
monopoly power over our children. This mo-
the very heart of the American creed. We
ust sacrifice school prayer.
S to those who stand against
nopoly turns students into statistics and turns
have no truth more enduring than the idea
parents into pawns. It is time we began think-
that every American should have the oppor-
choice to low- and middle-
ing of a system of public education in which
tunity for a first-class education. We have no
simply do not buy the idea
many providers offer a marketplace of oppor-
principles more important than freedom, op-
not make a good decision
tunities, opportunities that give all of our
portunity, and choice.
person is poor. We heard
children choices and access to the best edu-
So thank you very, very much. And look
at when we proposed child
r low-income families or
cation in the world. And so it is our firm
at it this way, you're doing the Lord's work
ed help for public housing
belief, it is our firm belief that this "GI bill"
for our Nation's future, and you're doing it
for children will move America inevitably in
for the young people of this country. We are
eir own homes. So it's my
(ht to let families own their
that direction.
grateful to all of you. And may God bless
oose their own schools re-
Abraham Lincoln once said, "Revolutions
the United States. And now I will sign this.
icome level and give them
do not go backward." Milwaukee is not the
a shot at the American
only place in America that our revolution is
Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. on
the South Lawn at the White House. In his
underway. Last year in Indianapolis, Pat
remarks, he referred to Polly Williams, Wis-
e who claim that school
Rooney and the Educational CHOICE Char-
itable Trust began to offer tuition vouchers
consin State legislator. A tape was not avail-
he public schools, let me
able for verification of the content of these
int: All of this new money
to Indianapolis students. I understand a bus-
remarks.
chools if that's where the
load of parents and students drove all night
), where the family choose
to be here today. If you're still awake, wel-
'. That decision will be in
come, a special welcome to all of you. In San
es, where it belongs.
Antonio, the CEO Foundation has ear-
marked $1.5 million in vouchers for children
Message to the Congress
al points to make about
int to make it clear that
in their community. California: Joe Alibrandi
Transmitting Proposed Legislation
To Establish a "GI Bill" for Children
ere about a new Federal
and thousands of supporters are pushing for
m. The Federal Govern-
a ballot initiative to provide voucher scholar-
June 25, 1992
d one more entitlement,
ships for every school-age child in the State.
To the Congress of the United States:
I've said many times that
Overall in 1991, 10 States approved some
Forty-eight years ago this week, President
the answer. The United
form of new choice legislation, and 37 States
Franklin Roosevelt signed the GI Bill. With
ids more per student for
had choice legislation pending in one form
the hope of duplicating the success of that
untry in the world except
or another.
historic legislation, I am pleased to transmit
t have to tell you where
I've been told that there may just be a few
for your immediate consideration and enact-
mational rankings of edu-
folks here from Pennsylvania. [Applause]
ment the "Federal Grants for State and Local
e at the level we're talk-
We're outnumbered. Well, it may take a few
'GI Bills' for Children." This proposal is a
ay. Our universities and
tries, but I never underestimate the persist-
crucial component of our efforts to help the
ed and have achieved the
ence of parents: The children of Pennsylva-
country achieve the National Education
nievement. But that, un-
nia will have school choice.
Goals by the year 2000. Also transmitted is
rue as we talk about K-
From California to East Harlem, from
a section-by-section analysis.
olution in American edu-
coast to coast, the leaders of the school
This legislation would authorize half-a-bil-
oney to do it the same
choice movement are sparking a revolution
lion new Federal dollars in fiscal year 1993,
in American education. They're the true he-
and additional amounts in later years, to help.
r schools will remain a
roes of this education reform, and some of
States and communities give $1,000 scholar-
local responsibility. But
them are here with us today. They aren't
ships to middle- and low-income children.
State and local scholar-
afraid to stand up to the status quo, to say
Families may spend these scholarships at any
/st. For schools that at-
loud and clear that when it comes to educat-
lawfully operating school of their choice-
it will give teachers and
ing our kids, business-as-usual simply isn't
public, private, or religious. The result would
3 source of new funds.
good enough. Let there be no mistake: Bar-
be to give middle- and low-income families
oice can help open up
bara and I and the Vice President and
consumer power-dollars to spend at any