Columbia, South Carolina – On day four of "Building a Better America week," Senator John Edwards returned to his birthplace of Seneca, South Carolina, joined by his parents, Bobbie and Wallace Edwards. At Walhalla High School, the same school Wallace Edwards graduated from in 1950, Edwards spoke to more than 1,000 high school seniors about how he was the first in his family to go to college and that he is running for president so that all young people have the same opportunities that he has had.

The student forum is being hosted by Generation Next Votes 2008. Nearly 1,000 students throughout the Oconee School District who will be 18 by November 4, 2008 will be attending, all of whom should leave the event informed, motivated and as registered voters. Representatives from both political parties in Oconee County, SC Voter Registration, and the League of Women Voters are also part of the program. Students from Clemson University will be assisting with the registration process.

"I believe that every child should be able to go as far as her God-given talents and hard work will take her," said Edwards. "I grew up in small, rural towns and my parents didn't have a lot of money. But I was lucky to have people who taught me to believe that somebody from Seneca could do just about anything if he worked hard and played by the rules.

"In the America I believe in, every child deserves to have the same chances I had. I was the first in my family to go to college and I think that every young person who is willing to work hard has the opportunity to go to college and fulfill the American Dream."

At the forum, Edwards outlined his plan to make college more affordable for millions of students through a national College for Everyone program that will pay for public college for students willing to take a part-time job. The College for Everyone program is based on a proposal that Edwards first talked about in his 2004 presidential campaign. In the fall of 2005, Edwards helped start a College for Everyone pilot program at Greene Central High School in Snow Hill, North Carolina, a economically disadvantaged, rural community in eastern North Carolina. The projected college-going rate for Greene Central seniors has increased from 54 percent before the program started to 74 percent today.

Before the forum, Edwards presided over the official opening of the new Oconee County Democratic Party Headquarters in Seneca. Later in the day, Edwards will stop by The Haven restaurant in Charleston before headlining the Charleston County Democratic Women Holiday Party accompanied by actor Harry Belafonte.

To date, Edwards leads all Democratic candidates in campaign stops and money raised in South Carolina. Earlier this month, Edwards became the first Democratic candidate to launch television ads in the state. The campaign has aired three South Carolina ads so far.During "Building a Better America" week, Edwards is highlighting five core proposals to build a better America including universal health care, good jobs, excellent schools, affordable housing, and strong families. Edwards has challenged the American people to rise up and meet the great moral test of our time to ensure our generation leaves this country better for our children than it was when our parents gave it to us.

For more information on Edwards' plan for making college affordable, please see the policy document included below.

College Affordability through College for Everyone

"In America, every child should be able to go as far as his God-given talents and hard work will take him. As the first in my family to go to college, I know that our system of public education should be our sturdiest ladder of opportunity." – John Edwards

College has never been more important. College graduates can expect to earn $1 million more over their lifetimes than high school graduates, and their children are almost twice as likely to attend college themselves. However, an estimated 200,000 college-qualified graduates fail to attend college each year. Students from high-income families are five times more likely to enroll in college than their low-income peers. Students who do go to college now leave with about $20,000 in debt. Last year, student debt rose by 8 percent while college graduates' starting wages grew by only 4 percent. [Census, 2002; Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, 2002; NELS, 1998; Project on Student Debt, 2007]

Today, John Edwards proposed a series of initiatives to help all qualified students pay for college. His College Opportunity Agenda includes:

Creating a National "College for Everyone" Initiative: Edwards will create a national initiative -- based on the Greene County program -- to pay one year of public-college tuition, fees, and books for more than 2 million students. In return, students will be required to work part-time in college, take a college-prep curriculum in high school, and stay out of trouble.

Overhauling the Student Loan Program: Banks that make student loans receive large federal subsidies and a guarantee against default. However, millions of students have borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education, receiving loans that have very similar terms but are far less expensive for taxpayers. Edwards will let all students borrow directly from the Department of Education. By eliminating bank subsidies on student loans, he will free up billions of dollars to make college more affordable.

Simplifying Financial Aid: The application for student aid, known as the FAFSA, is needlessly complicated and longer than many tax forms. Many students and families need classes to help fill it out, and 1.5 million high school students do not apply for aid even though they are eligible. Edwards would dramatically simplify the application process by using information the federal government already has, eliminating two-thirds of the questions. [TICAS, 2007]

Giving Students the Tools They Need to Apply for College and Aid: Financial aid alone is not enough. Too many students lack the encouragement and guidance they need to apply to college. In some large cities, a single counselor must serve more than 700 students. Edwards will help every low-income high school eligible for Title I hire a new college counselor, helping students choose college-track courses and navigate the admissions and financial aid process. [McDonough, 2007; Bridge Project, 2003]

Ames, Iowa – As part of "Building a Better America" week, today Senator John Edwards will discuss his plan to tackle student loan debt and make college more affordable. Edwards was the first in his family to go to college and is running for president so that all young people have the same opportunities that he has had. He believes every young person who is willing to work hard, should have the chance to go to college. At a community meeting in Ames, Iowa tonight, Edwards will outline his plan to make college more affordable for millions of students through a national College for Everyone program that will pay for one year of public college for students willing to take a part-time job. He will also discuss his plans for reforming student loans to eliminating bank subsidies, making applying for financial aid easier, and expanding access to college counselors.

"In America, every child should be able to go as far as her God-given talents and hard work will take her," said Edwards. "As the first in my family to go to college, I know that our system of public education should be our sturdiest ladder of opportunity.

"But while a college education has never been more important, hundreds of thousands of young people fail to attend college each year because they can't afford it. And for students who do go to college, the cost of tuition just keeps going up. On average, college students now graduate with $20,000 in loans. To build the better America we all believe in, we must find ways to make college more affordable. We've got to make sure that every qualified student has the opportunity to go to college and fulfill the American Dream."

The College for Everyone program is based on a proposal that Edwards first talked about in his 2004 presidential campaign. In the fall of 2005, Edwards helped start a College for Everyone pilot program at Greene Central High School in Snow Hill, North Carolina, a economically disadvantaged, rural community in eastern North Carolina. The projected college-going rate for Greene Central seniors has increased from 54 percent before the program started to 74 percent today.

Edwards' College Opportunity Agenda includes:

• Creating a National "College for Everyone" Initiative: Edwards will create a national initiative – based on the Greene County program – to pay one year of public-college tuition, fees, and books for more than 2 million students. In return, students will be required to work part-time in college, take a college-prep curriculum in high school, and stay out of trouble.
• Overhauling the Student Loan Program: Edwards will let all students borrow directly from the Department of Education. By eliminating bank subsidies on student loans, he will free up billions of dollars to make college more affordable.
• Simplifying Financial Aid: Edwards would dramatically simplify the application process by using information the federal government already has, eliminating two-thirds of the questions.
• Giving Students the Tools They Need to Apply for College and Aid: Edwards will help every low-income high school eligible for Title I hire a new college counselor, helping students choose college-track courses and navigate the admissions and financial aid process.

During "Building a Better America" week, Edwards is highlighting his plans for building a better America – a place where every American family has the opportunity to fulfill the American Dream. Edwards has challenged Americans to rise up and meet the great moral test of our time to ensure our generation leaves this country better for our children than it was when our parents gave it to us.

For more information on Edwards' plan for making college affordable and reducing student debt, please see the policy document included below.

College Affordability through College for Everyone

"In America, every child should be able to go as far as his God-given talents and hard work will take him. As the first in my family to go to college, I know that our system of public education should be our sturdiest ladder of opportunity." – John Edwards

College has never been more important. College graduates can expect to earn $1 million more over their lifetimes than high school graduates, and their children are almost twice as likely to attend college themselves. However, an estimated 200,000 college-qualified graduates fail to attend college each year. Students from high-income families are five times more likely to enroll in college than their low-income peers. Students who do go to college now leave with about $20,000 in debt. Last year, student debt rose by 8 percent while college graduates' starting wages grew by only 4 percent. [Census, 2002; Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, 2002; NELS, 1998; Project on Student Debt, 2007]

Today, John Edwards discussed his plan to tackle student loan debt and make college more affordable. He proposed a national College for Everyone initiative to pay public college tuition for students willing to take a part-time job. He will also reform student loans to eliminate bank subsidies, make applying for financial aid easier, and expand access to college counselors.

Greene County's College for Everyone Program

In the fall of 2005, John Edwards helped start a College for Everyone pilot program at Greene Central High School in Snow Hill, North Carolina. The program was launched by the Center for Promise and Opportunity Foundation, a North Carolina nonprofit organization. Located in rural, eastern North Carolina, Greene County's income and education attainment are lower than North Carolina averages. Its school system has an above-average percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged.

The College for Everyone program is based on a proposal that Edwards first talked about in his 2004 presidential campaign. It helps pay for the first year of tuition, fees and books for college students who agree to work part-time. Students must also complete coursework that prepares them for further education, stay out of trouble, and enroll in a participating public university or community college. The program works with College Summit and North Carolina's universities and community colleges. Last year the program announced that more than $300,000 in scholarship funding was available, and 72 students just completed their first year of college. More than 125 students from this year's graduating class were expected to college in the fall with the help of College for Everyone. The projected college-going rate for Greene Central seniors has increased from 54 percent before the program started to 74 percent today.

John Edwards' College Opportunity Agenda

Today John Edwards proposed a series of initiatives to help all qualified students pay for college. His College Opportunity Agenda includes:

As President, Edwards Will Stand Up For The Heroes In The Classroom – Hard-Working Teachers

Charles City, Iowa – Today, Senator John Edwards highlighted the service of America's teachers during a community meeting in Charles City, Iowa as part of "American Heroes Week." From Thursday, November 1st through Wednesday, November 7th, Edwards is highlighting his commitment to fighting for the real heroes of America – the men and women whose hard work makes our country great, but who have no voice in Washington.

Nothing is more important to our children's future than America's teachers. While pay for CEOs and other highly paid workers has skyrocketed in recent years, teachers only earn a fraction of the salaries paid to other educated professionals. Edwards believes we need to give teachers the respect and resources they need to succeed. He will stand up for heroes like Dennis Petersen from Charles City, who taught for 35 years, including 27 years as an art teacher at Charles City Junior High, before he retired. He is now substitute teacher whenever he is needed. Edwards has outlined a bold plan to support teachers and restore the promise of America's schools.

"Growing up, I had heroic public school teachers who cared about me, who took an interest in my life, and who taught me the skills I needed to succeed," said Edwards. "Teachers, not tests, are the single most important factor in successful schools. We need to give teachers the pay and respect they deserve. As president, I will support teachers and strengthen our education system, so that every child gets the same great education I received."

"John Edwards speaks to the parts of America that a lot of politicians have forgotten about -- the people who go to work, pay their taxes, and live true American lives," says Petersen. "He listens to the people and understands where they are coming from. He will not forget the average American working person because that is where he comes from, and he will not forget his roots."

Edwards' plan to support America's teachers and restore the promise of America's schools includes:

In May, Edwards introduced an initiative to improve access to higher education by making college more affordable for millions of students. Edwards' College Opportunity Agenda includes a national "College for Everyone" initiative, which would pay for public-college tuition, fees, and books for any student who is willing to work hard and stay out of trouble.

For more information on Edwards' plan to restore the promise of America's schools, please see the fact sheet below.

Restoring the Promise of America's Schools

As the product of public schools in a small rural town and the father of four children who attended public schools, John Edwards understands the importance of education. He believes every child should have the same chance to get a great education – a commitment that is at the core of his plan to build One America where everyone has a chance to succeed. But more than 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education, we still have two school systems that are separate and unequal. No longer legally separated by race, our children are sorted by economics, often with a racial or ethnic dimension. At the same time, our children are preparing for unprecedented global economic competition.

Unfortunately, Washington is letting down our children. George Bush's No Child Left Behind law is not working for schools, teachers and – most importantly – our children, and it needs to be radically overhauled. And Washington is simply not doing its part to invest in early childhood education, teachers, or helping struggling schools. Our students are falling behind in key subjects like math and science, good teachers are leaving the profession, and our graduates aren't as prepared for the global economy as their peers in other countries. Students in poor rural areas and major cities often don't have the same chances as other students, and an achievement gap that falls along economic and racial or ethnic lines undermines the promise of equality.

Today, John Edwards outlined his vision for excellent American schools, based on three principles:

Preparing Every Child to Succeed

Half of the achievement gap between children from poor families and their more fortunate peers exists before they start school. Quality preschools compensate for the learning opportunities some children miss at home, reducing remedial education, welfare, and crime. Its benefits are strongly supported by academic research and the experience of universal pre-K programs in Georgia and Oklahoma. Children from poor families benefit most from high-quality preschool, but less than half of poor children attend pre-school compared to two-thirds of other children. [Denton and Germino-Hausken, 2000; Aspen, 2007; PPI, 2004; RAND, 1998; Barnett, 1996; EPI, 2002; Education Sector, 2007]

John Edwards believes that quality preschool education should be as common as kindergarten. As president, he will lead the way toward universal preschool, starting with the children who need the help most. In addition to maintaining and expanding support for existing programs like Head Start and the child care block grant, Edwards will:

An Excellent Teacher in Every Classroom

Nothing is more important in a school than the relationship between a teacher and a child. In a single year, a good teacher can raise student achievement by a full grade level more than a less effective teacher. Yet students with the greatest needs are more likely to have less experienced and effective teachers. Poor urban and rural schools in particular struggle to attract and retain excellent teachers. While pay for CEOs and other highly paid workers skyrocketed in recent years, teachers earn a fraction of the salaries paid to other educated professionals.

John Edwards believes we need to invest more in training and paying our teachers to help every child learn at high levels. As president, he will:

To address other recruitment hurdles, Edwards will help states and school districts improve working conditions and increase time for teacher collaboration and planning. He will also address barriers for teachers moving between states by encouraging reciprocal credentials and studying ways to make pension plans compatible. [NCTAF, 1996 and 2002; Sanders and Rivers, 1996; Jordan, Mednro, and Weerasinghe, 1997; Peske and Haycock, 2006; Rural School and Community Trust, 2006 and 2007; NY Times, 8/27/2007]

Making Every School an Outstanding School

Every child in America should have the chance to attend an outstanding public school that has high expectations for every child. Children need to master both basic skills in reading, writing and math and advanced thinking skills like creativity, analytic thinking and using technology. We cannot tolerate the benign neglect of our schools. No Child Left Behind has lost its way by imposing cheap standardized tests, narrowing the curriculum at the expense of science, history, and the arts and mandating unproven cookie-cutter reforms on schools. As a result, it has lost the support of teachers, principals, and parents, whose support is needed for any reform to succeed.

John Edwards believes that we need to overhaul No Child Left Behind to center our schools around children, not tests, and help struggling schools, not punish them. He will:

Discusses proposals to ensure there are excellent teachers in every classroom and that every high school is an excellent school

Manchester, NH – Today, during a visit to the Oyster River High School high school in Durham, New Hampshire, Senator John Edwards discussed his plans ensure that every child in America gets the quality education they deserve. Edwards highlighted his proposals to ensure that there are excellent teachers in every classroom and that every high school is an excellent school.

"Education is an issue that's very personal for me," said Edwards. "I grew up in a small, rural town and my parents didn't have a lot of money. But I was lucky to have public school teachers who taught me to believe that somebody from a little town in North Carolina could do just about anything if he worked hard and played by the rules.

"I believe that every child deserves to have the same chances I had, and I know a great education starts with a great teacher," Edwards continued. "Study after study shows that no single factor has a greater impact on the quality of a child's education than his or her teacher. Yet too often, teachers are not paid or treated like the professionals they are. Students in poor urban and rural schools are more likely to have less experienced and effective teachers. While pay for CEOs and other highly paid workers skyrocketed in recent years, teachers earn a fraction of the salaries paid to other educated professionals."

During his speech today, Edwards emphasized his specific plans to ensure that every classroom has an excellent teacher. Edwards called for reducing classroom sizes and increasing pay for teachers in successful high-poverty schools. He also proposed giving extra support to teachers in the first years of their careers and stepping up efforts to recruit and train new teachers.

Building on his proposals for recruiting and training more high quality teachers, Edwards also outlined his plan to promote excellence at high schools across America. Edwards called for launching a "Great Schools" initiative to build and expand on 1,000 successful school across the country and establishing stronger academic and career curricula. Edwards also highlighted his plans to raise graduation rates by creating multiple paths to graduation such as Second Chance schools for former dropouts and smaller alternative schools for at-risk students. Finally, Edwards called for the creation of a Community Corps program for high school students to engage more students in well-integrated and high quality service activities.

In our schools, nothing is more important than the relationship between a teacher and a child. Excellent, experienced high school teachers have been shown to lower dropout rates, increase college-going rates, and boost students' long-term achievement in college and beyond. The positive impact of high quality high school teachers is most pronounced in the science and math courses that are critical to America's continued competitiveness in the global economy. [CFPE, 2007; Carey, 2007]

An Excellent Teacher in Every Classroom

"A great education starts with a great teacher. Study after study shows that no school factor has a larger impact on the quality of a child's education than his or her teacher." -- John Edwards

Yet too often, teachers are not paid or treated like the professionals they are. Students in poor urban and rural schools are more likely to have less experienced and effective teachers. Though pay for CEOs and other highly paid workers has skyrocketed in recent years, teachers earn a fraction of the salaries paid to other educated professionals. John Edwards believes we need to invest more in training and paying our teachers to help every child learn at high levels. He has outlined specific steps to improve our schools, starting with overhauling the No Child Left Behind Act. Today, he emphasized his specific plans to respect and reward teachers. As president, he will:

For further details, please see Edwards' "An Excellent Teacher in Every Classroom" and "Excellent High Schools Across America" papers included below.

Raise Pay by Up to $15,000 More for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools

Edwards will fundamentally change teachers' incentives by helping states pay teachers in successful high-poverty schools as much as $15,000 more a year. The $15,000 raise includes $5,000 for all teachers in successful high poverty schools, $5,000 for teachers with national certification for excellence, and $5,000 for veteran teachers who serve as mentors. [NCTAF, 1996 and 2002; Sanders and Rivers, 1996]

Create a National Teacher University

Great teachers are a national priority, so Edwards will create a West Point for teachers to recruit and train 1,000 top college students a year. Students will pay no tuition and go on to teach in areas such as special education, math and science, where New Hampshire has faced persistent critical shortages. [NHDoEd, 2007]

Help Teachers in Their Early Years

A third of all new teachers leave the profession within three years. Edwards will encourage a transition year for rookie teachers with smaller classes and reduced teaching loads. He will also support structured mentoring programs like the successful program at the Greater Manchester Professional Development Center. [Ingersoll, 2003; Ed Trust, 2007; Levine, 2006; NCATF, 2006]

Reduce Class Sizes

The benefits of smaller classes, especially in early grades, are well established. One study found that students in small classes are less likely to drop out of school and more likely to graduate on time. Edwards will increase federal resources for reducing class sizes. [Krueger and Whitmore, 2001, 2002; Smith, Molnar, and Zahorik, 2003; U.S. Department of Education, 2000]

Excellent High Schools Across America

"There is nothing more important to our future than our country's schools. We all pay a price when young people who could someday find the cure for AIDS or build a new fuel cell end up sitting on a stoop because they didn't get the education they needed." -- John Edwards

High schools like Oyster River High can be the springboards that propel students into college and careers and prepare them to compete in the global economy. But on the latest international assessment, American high school students finished in the bottom half of all nations in math, and they ranked 18th out of 40 countries in reading. [OECD, 2004]

John Edwards believes we can meet these challenges. Building on his proposals for recruiting and training more high quality teachers, making college affordable for everyone, and radically overhauling No Child Left Behind, today Senator Edwards outlined his plan to promote excellence at high schools across America.

Launch a "Great Schools" Initiative to Build and Expand 1,000 Successful Schools

Throughout the United States, there are public schools that are helping children from all backgrounds succeed, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, small schools, and other models. Edwards will help 250 schools a year expand or start new branches with federal funds to support new buildings, excellent teachers, and other needs. Among the proven school models he will support are small schools, early college high schools, and economically integrated schools.

Establish Stronger Academic and Career Curricula

High school class rigor is the number-one predictor of college success. Even students who do not go to college need strong math and reading skills in the workplace. Edwards believes that all schools should have access to Advanced Placement courses and he will support partnerships between high schools and community colleges to help train students for the good jobs where skilled workers are in short supply today. [US Department of Education, 1997; ACT, 2006; ED in 08, 2007]

Raise Graduation Rates

Almost a third of all students drop out of school before earning a high school diploma, and rates among children of color or from low-income families are higher. Edwards will create multiple paths to graduation, such as Second Chance schools for former dropouts and smaller alternative schools for at-risk students. He will focus on identifying at-risk students and support the Striving Readers literacy program and one-on-one tutoring to keep them in school. [Baron, 2005; Alliance for Excellent Education, 2007; Balfranz and Legters, 2004; NCES, 2004]

Support High School Service Programs

High school students have the energy and enthusiasm to make their community and their country better places to live. Edwards will create a Community Corps service programs for high school students. It will provide resources to high schools that choose to make community service a graduation requirement, helping them raise the quality of service opportunities and integrate them into the curriculum.

Union picks Edwards as the candidate with the strength and vision to compete in battleground states and bring real change to Washington

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) announced its endorsement of John Edwards for president. The NCAE, which represents 70,000 teachers, education support professionals and retirees, has endorsed Edwards every time he has run for public office. They supported Edwards' Senate run in 1998 and, after endorsing him in the 2004 presidential primary, NCAE members traveled to early states to organize other teachers to vote for Edwards.

"We need a leader with the strength and vision to compete in battleground states like North Carolina," said Eddie Davis, president of NCAE. "John Edwards is the candidate who shares our values, understands our issues and offers real and bold solutions. Edwards' comprehensive education plans borrow from some of the best reform practices we have here in North Carolina- involving expert educators in school reforms and supporting Smart Start, which coordinates education, health care and family support services for children before they enter school. He also understands that teachers, not tests, are the single most important factor in successful schools and has introduced plans to radically overhaul No Child Left Behind, increase incentives for teachers in high-poverty schools, and improve training and mentoring programs for teachers. The greatest challenges to our schools are addressing the needs of children and families who live in poverty. John's focus on the underserved is meaningful to our members."

"I am honored to receive the endorsement of the NCAE," said Edwards. "Education is an issue that's very personal to me. I came from a small town in rural North Carolina, but I had public school teachers who taught me to believe I could do just about anything if I worked hard and played by the rules. So I understand why it's so critical that we fix our education system and make sure that every child in America has the same opportunity to succeed that I had."

In September, Edwards unveiled his plan for "Restoring the Promise of American Schools" based on three guiding principles: every child should be prepared to succeed when they show up in the classroom; every classroom should be led by an excellent teacher; and every teacher should work in an outstanding school. To meet these principles, Edwards proposed a national "Great Promise" partnership to give a quality early childhood education to every four-year-old in the country and the creation of a national "Smart Start" program to improve child care and invest in child health. To help teachers achieve excellence, Edwards proposed reducing classroom sizes and increasing pay for teachers in successful high-poverty schools. He would also give extra support to teachers in the first years of their careers and step up efforts to recruit and train new teachers. Finally, Edwards proposed a complete overhaul of No Child Left Behind, the creation of a School Success Fund to allow teams of experienced educators to spend a year at struggling schools, and launching a "Great Schools" initiative to build or expand 1,000 successful schools.

With the endorsement of the NCAE, Edwards has passed the 3.1 million members mark in union support. Last week Edwards won the endorsement of 11 SEIU state councils, representing over 1 million workers in Iowa, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio and Oregon. The endorsements will allow these 11 SEIU state councils to organize efforts to turn out caucus goers on Edwards' behalf within Iowa, and in any other state where the SEIU state councils have also endorsed Edwards. The Iowa Postal Workers Union, representing 3,000 members, also endorsed Edwards last week. In September, Edwards earned the endorsement of the Transport Workers Union of America (200,000 active and retired members), the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (520,000 active members), the United Steelworkers (1.2 million active members and retirees), and the United Mine Workers of America (105,000 active members and retirees).

"Half a century ago, the Little Rock Nine walked passed angry mobs and inspired the nation with their grace and strength. This anniversary reminds us both of their heroism and of the staggering amount of work we still have to do in this country. We still have two school systems – no longer legally but economically and racially. While our nation has made great progress, the quality of our children's education still depends far too much on the parents to which they are born. We cannot go on this way if we hope to build One America where everyone has an equal chance to succeed. It is our obligation to put an end to this inequality.

"We must also recognize that one of the barriers to truly integrated schools is a lack of income diversity. As president, I'll give bonuses to schools in affluent areas that enroll more low-income students and I'll create more magnet schools in low-income areas. Finally, I'll offer 1 million more housing vouchers for low-income families over the next five years, so families can choose to live in neighborhoods with good schools.

"We must never forget what the achievements of all of our Civil Rights pioneers contributed to America. We would best honor their courage today by recommitting ourselves to giving every single child the opportunity to go as far as their dreams and God-given potential will take them."

Education Leadership Committee to Advise Campaign on Education Issues, Help Spread the Message about Edwards' Bold Education Plan

Manchester, NH – Today, coinciding with the release of Senator Edwards' education plan, the Edwards for President campaign announced its New Hampshire Education Leadership Committee. This group of over 30 education leaders from across the state have endorsed Senator Edwards, and they will advise the campaign on education issues and help spread the message of Edwards' plan to restore the promise of America's schools.

"Edwards' bold plan will help restore the promise of America's schools," said Brian Wazlaw, a leading member of Edwards' Education Leadership Committee. "He will provide universal pre-school, help train and recruit better teachers while reducing class sizes, and reform the No Child Left Behind Act so it focuses on the students, rather than tests."

"New Hampshire voters are looking for substance and bold ideas," Elizabeth Edwards, who is attending Grantieroots house parties to discuss Senator Edwards' newly released education policy, said. "John has led the field with bold new policies to provide truly universal health care, end the war in Iraq, and halt global warming while creating good paying jobs. He continues to lead today with this new policy to provide quality education to all our children."

The members of the committee are:

Ed Beattie, History Teacher and Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Winnacunnet High School and Prominent Seacoast Activist
Arthur Beaudry, Manchester School Board Member
Barbara Kuhlman Brown, Former Chair of the Concord School Board
Carol Brown, Keene School Board Member
Frank Callaghan, Rochester School Board Member
Chris Coates, Keene School Board Member
Dick Courtney, Dover Democratic Committeeman and Prominent Education Advocate
James Culverhouse, Milton School Board Member
Rep. Frank Davis, State Representative from Pembroke and Retired Teacher
Rep. Judy Day, North Hampton, Member of the House Education Committee
Charles DeVito, Rochester School Board Member
Rep. Tim Dunn, Keene, Vice-Chair of the New Hampshire House Education Committee
Curtis Finney, Special Education Teacher and President of the Conway Education Association
Marjorie Fisher, Chair of the Dover School Board
Kelly French, Nelson School Board Member
Jon Gross, Former Manchester School Board Member
Senator Joe Foster, Nashua, Vice-Chair of the New Hampshire Senate Education Committee
Joan MacSweeney, Hudson Kindergarten Teacher and Prominent Education Advocate
Phil MacSweeney, Hudson teacher and Prominent Education Advocate
Caroline McCarley, Former Chair, Rochester School Board, 1989-1999, Former State Senator
Joanne McHugh, Hooksett School Board Member
Kristin McKeon, West Chesterfield School Board Member
Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja, Nashua School Board Member
Deborah H. Bacon Nelson, English Teacher, Lebanon School District, and Prominent Upper Valley Activist
Maura Ouellette, Hooksett School Board Member
Carrolle Popovich, Strafford School Board Member
Chris Seibel, Hanover School Councilor
Audrey Stevens, Rochester School Board Member
Ann Walker, Portsmouth School Board Member
Rep. Bob Watson, State Representative and Rochester School Board Member
Brian Wazlaw, Laboratory Safety Officer, Exeter School District, and Retired Science Department Chair, Exeter High School, Member of the NEA's Executive Board representing the Seacoast Region
Brenda Willis, Derry School Board Member

Senator Edwards' full K-12 education policy can be read at www.johnedwards.com/issues/education

Plan will radically overhaul No Child Left Behind, expand early education, support teachers and create a "School Success Fund" to help struggling schools

Des Moines, Iowa – Today, Senator John Edwards delivered a major education policy speech at Brody Middle School in Des Moines where he unveiled his plan to radically overhaul the No Child Left Behind Act and ensure that every child in America gets the quality education they deserve. Edwards' plan for Restoring the Promise of American Schools is based on three guiding principles: every child should be prepared to succeed when they show up in the classroom; every classroom should be led by an excellent teacher; and every teacher should work in an outstanding school.

"Education is an issue that's very personal for me," said Edwards. "I grew up in a small, rural town and my parents didn't have a lot of money. But I was lucky to have public school teachers who taught me to believe that somebody from a little town in North Carolina could do just about anything if he worked hard and played by the rules."

"Every child deserves to have the same chances I had," Edwards continued. "But today, millions of young people don't get these opportunities. More than a half-century after Brown v. Board of Education, we still have two school systems, separate and unequal. George Bush's No Child Left Behind law is not working, and Washington is simply not doing its part to invest in early childhood education, teachers, or support for struggling schools."

Edwards' plan for education reform will address the failures of the current system through focusing on the following principles:

Preparing Every Child to Succeed: As president, Edwards will launch a national "Great Promise" partnership to give a quality early childhood education to every four-year-old in the country – starting with poor children in neighborhoods with struggling schools. To reach even younger children, Edwards will create a national "Smart Start" program that will improve child care and invest in child health.

An Excellent Teacher in Every Classroom: Teachers, not tests, are the single most important factor in successful schools. As president, Edwards will increase pay for teachers in successful high-poverty schools by up to $15,000 a year. He will also create a National Teacher University – a West Point for teachers – to recruit 1,000 top college students a year, train them to be excellent teachers, and encourage them to teach where they are needed the most. His plan also will give extra support to teachers in the first years of their careers, reduce classroom sizes, and train more excellent principals.

Making Every School an Outstanding School: No Child Left Behind used cheap standardized tests to measure our children's learning, failed to accurately identify struggling schools, and mandated unproven cookie-cutter solutions for our schools' problems. Edwards will totally overhaul it so it meets its goals of helping all children learn through accurately identifying and improving struggling schools. Based on North Carolina's successful education reforms, Edwards proposed a School Success Fund to allow teams of experienced educators to spend a year at struggling schools helping launch reforms. Edwards will also launch a "Great Schools" initiative to build or expand 1,000 successful schools.

In May, Edwards introduced an initiative to improve access to higher education by making college more affordable for millions of students. Edwards' College Opportunity Agenda includes a national "College for Everyone" initiative, which would pay for public-college tuition, fees, and books for any student who is willing to work hard and stay out of trouble.

For more information on Edwards' plan for Restoring the Promise of America's Schools, please read the fact sheet below. Excerpts from Edwards' education address are also included.

Excerpts from Edwards' Education Address:

"Education is an issue that's very personal for me. I grew up in a small, rural town. My family didn't have a lot of money, but my parents worked hard to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. And they told me that if I worked hard in school, I could be anything I wanted to be. In the classroom, I had heroic public school teachers who taught me the same thing. I had teachers who cared about me, who took an interest in my life, and who taught me the skills I needed to succeed. My high-school English teacher, Ms. Burns, made me believe that somebody from a little town in North Carolina, where their father worked in the mill, could do just about anything if he worked hard and played by the rules."

"Every child deserves to have the same chances I had. But today, millions of young people don't get them. In America today, children who live in the right zip code get the best education our country has to offer, while children who live in rural and low-income communities face an uphill battle. In America today, two schools separated by a five-minute drive can be miles apart in the quality of education they offer their students. More than a half-century after Brown vs. Board of Education, we still have two school systems, separate and unequal."

"The 'American Century' was built on the skills and knowledge of American workers, trained by one of the best education systems in the world. If we want this 21st century to be an American century as well, our workforce will need the skills to successfully compete against rising global economic powers like China and India. And today, we are failing to equip them with those skills."

"There are three simple pillars to my plan: First, every child should be prepared to succeed when they show up in the classroom. Second, every classroom should be led by an excellent teacher. And third, every teacher should work in an outstanding school."

"When it comes to reform, a good place to start is by radically overhauling No Child Left Behind. NCLB is a case study in the broken system in Washington, D.C., a system that has looked the other way as its failed policies and incompetent leadership have broken our schools and broken the spirits of our children and their teachers."

Restoring the Promise of America's Schools

As the product of public schools in a small rural town and the father of four children who attended public schools, John Edwards understands the importance of education. He believes every child should have the same chance to get a great education – a commitment that is at the core of his plan to build One America where everyone has a chance to succeed. But more than 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education, we still have two school systems that are separate and unequal. No longer legally separated by race, our children are sorted by economics, often with a racial or ethnic dimension. At the same time, our children are preparing for unprecedented global economic competition.

Unfortunately, Washington is letting down our children. George Bush's No Child Left Behind law is not working for schools, teachers and – most importantly – our children, and it needs to be radically overhauled. And Washington is simply not doing its part to invest in early childhood education, teachers, or helping struggling schools. Our students are falling behind in key subjects like math and science, good teachers are leaving the profession, and our graduates aren't as prepared for the global economy as their peers in other countries. Students in poor rural areas and major cities often don't have the same chances as other students, and an achievement gap that falls along economic and racial or ethnic lines undermines the promise of equality.

Today, John Edwards outlined his vision for excellent American schools, based on three principles:

Preparing Every Child to Succeed

Half of the achievement gap between children from poor families and their more fortunate peers exists before they start school. Quality preschools compensate for the learning opportunities some children miss at home, reducing remedial education, welfare, and crime. Its benefits are strongly supported by academic research and the experience of universal pre-K programs in Georgia and Oklahoma. Children from poor families benefit most from high-quality preschool, but less than half of poor children attend pre-school compared to two-thirds of other children. [Denton and Germino-Hausken, 2000; Aspen, 2007; PPI, 2004; RAND, 1998; Barnett, 1996; EPI, 2002; Education Sector, 2007]

John Edwards believes that quality preschool education should be as common as kindergarten. As president, he will lead the way toward universal preschool, starting with the children who need the help most. In addition to maintaining and expanding support for existing programs like Head Start and the child care block grant, Edwards will:

Offer Universal "Great Promise" Preschool to Four-Year-Olds

Edwards will provide resources to states to help them offer universal high-quality preschool programs for four-year-olds. Great Promise programs will:

Create National Smart Start

North Carolina's innovative Smart Start initiative promotes the healthy development of children under the age of five. It helps local partnerships make child care higher quality and more affordable, provides health services and supports families. Participating children show better cognitive and language skills and fewer behavioral problems. Edwards will help other states duplicate Smart Start programs, prioritizing children who are not served by other pre-K programs. Smart Start will:

An Excellent Teacher in Every Classroom

Nothing is more important in a school than the relationship between a teacher and a child. In a single year, a good teacher can raise student achievement by a full grade level more than a less effective teacher. Yet students with the greatest needs are more likely to have less experienced and effective teachers. Poor urban and rural schools in particular struggle to attract and retain excellent teachers. While pay for CEOs and other highly paid workers skyrocketed in recent years, teachers earn a fraction of the salaries paid to other educated professionals.

John Edwards believes we need to invest more in training and paying our teachers to help every child learn at high levels. As president, he will:

Raise Pay by up to $15,000 More for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools

Two-thirds of states do not offer any incentives of any kind for teachers to work in high-poverty schools, and many veteran teachers choose to teach in other schools. Edwards will fundamentally change teachers' incentives by helping states pay teachers in successful high-poverty schools as much as $15,000 more a year. The $15,000 raise includes:

To address other recruitment hurdles, Edwards will help states and school districts improve working conditions and increase time for teacher collaboration and planning. He will also address barriers for teachers moving between states by encouraging reciprocal credentials and studying ways to make pension plans compatible. [NCTAF, 1996 and 2002; Sanders and Rivers, 1996; Jordan, Mednro, and Weerasinghe, 1997; Peske and Haycock, 2006; Rural School and Community Trust, 2006 and 2007; NY Times, 8/27/2007]

Create a National Teacher University

While there are some successful education schools, many future teachers graduate without the skills and knowledge they need. In one survey, more than 60 percent of graduates said their education school did not prepare them. Because having great teachers is a national priority, Edwards will create a national teachers' university – a West Point for teachers – to recruit 1,000 top college students a year, train them to be excellent teachers, and encourage them to teach where they are needed most. The school will waive tuition for students who go on to teach in schools and subject areas facing shortages. It will also lead improvements at education schools nationwide by developing and sharing model curriculum and practices and serve as a forum to promote shared certification and licensing requirements across states. [Levine, 2006]

Help Teachers in Their Early Years

A third of all new teachers leave the profession within three years. Students in high-poverty and high-minority schools are twice as likely as other students to be taught by inexperienced teachers. Edwards will help states support teachers during their early years. He will encourage a transition year for rookie teachers with smaller class sizes, reduced teaching loads, and minimal extra duties. Resources will support structured mentoring programs pairing new teachers with successful veterans. Finally, he will support professional development based in actual classroom needs. [Ingersoll, 2003; Ed Trust, 2007; Levine, 2006; NCATF, 2006]

Reduce Class Sizes

Smaller classes help students learn more by allowing them to get more individualized attention from teachers. According to a Tennessee study, young students in small classes are less likely to drop out of school and more likely to graduate on time, complete more advanced math and English courses, and receive honors. Poor and African-American students gain the most from smaller classes. Edwards will dedicate federal resources to reduce class sizes, particularly for young children who are learning below grade levels. [Krueger and Whitmore, 2001, 2002; Smith, Molnar, and Zahorik, 2003; U.S. Department of Education, 2000]

Train More Excellent Principals

Principals can have a large impact on student achievement by setting high expectations and recruiting and supporting teachers, but many districts face principal shortages and the turnover rate for principals in poor urban and rural districts is as high as 20 percent a year. Edwards will help train excellent principals for high-need schools. Programs could be operated by schools of education, school districts, business schools, or other non-profits with a proven track record like New Leaders for New Schools. Establishing programs to train 3,000 principals a year will meet the needs of most of the country's high-need urban and rural schools. [Education Sector, 2007; Aspen Commission, 2007; Leithwood et al. 2004; Education Week, 9/12/2007]

Use Highly Qualified Teachers for Tutoring

No Child Left Behind requires schools that fail to make adequate progress for three years in a row to set aside up to 20 percent of their Title I funds to pay for "supplemental service" tutoring programs, often offered by private companies with unproven capabilities. Edwards will require that tutors be highly qualified teachers.

Making Every School an Outstanding School

Every child in America should have the chance to attend an outstanding public school that has high expectations for every child. Children need to master both basic skills in reading, writing and math and advanced thinking skills like creativity, analytic thinking and using technology. We cannot tolerate the benign neglect of our schools. No Child Left Behind has lost its way by imposing cheap standardized tests, narrowing the curriculum at the expense of science, history, and the arts and mandating unproven cookie-cutter reforms on schools. As a result, it has lost the support of teachers, principals, and parents, whose support is needed for any reform to succeed.

John Edwards believes that we need to overhaul No Child Left Behind to center our schools around children, not tests, and help struggling schools, not punish them. He will:

Overhaul No Child Left Behind

The law must be radically changed to live up to its goal of helping all children learn at high levels, accurately identifying struggling schools, and improving them. Its sole reliance on standardized, primarily multiple choice reading and math tests has led schools to narrow the curriculum. Its methodology for identifying failing school can be arbitrary and unfair. And it imposes mandatory, cookie-cutter reforms on these schools without any evidence they work. Edwards supports:

Launch a "Great Schools" Initiative to Build and Expand 1,000 Successful Schools

Across America, there are public schools that are helping children from all backgrounds succeed, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, small schools, and other models. Edwards will help 250 schools a year expand or start new branches. Federal funds will support new buildings, excellent teachers, and other needs. Among the schools he will support are:

Create a School Success Fund to Turn Around Struggling Schools

Improving our worst schools is going to take more than federal mandates of unproven remedies; it will require a serious commitment of resources. A new School Success Fund will:

More Resources for Poor and Rural Schools

Four out of five urban school districts studied nationally spend more on low-poverty schools than on high-poverty schools. Rural schools enroll 40 percent of American children – including most children in Iowa, New Hampshire, and North Carolina – but receive only 22 percent of federal education funding. Edwards will increase federal Title I funding and dedicate the increases to low-income schools and districts and rewarding states that distribute funding where it is needed most to increase learning. He will also invest in distance education and cutting-edge software to bring the promise of new learning technologies to remote areas. [NASBE, 2003; Rural School and Community Trust, 2007; Digital Promise, 2003]

Meet the Promise of Special Education

More than thirty years ago, Congress committed to fund 40 percent of the excess cost of educating children with disabilities, but it provides less than half that amount. George Bush has proposed a $300 million cut. Edwards opposes the Bush cuts and supports getting on a path toward meeting the federal promise. [Committee for Education Funding, 2007]

Raise Graduation Rates

Almost a third of all students drop out of school before earning a high school diploma, and rates among children of color or from low-income families are higher. At nearly 2,000 high schools nationwide – called "dropout factories" – more than 40 percent of students won't graduate. Edwards will create multiple paths to graduation such as Second Chance schools for former dropouts and smaller alternative schools for at-risk students. He will focus on identifying at-risk students and support the Striving Readers literacy program and one-on-one tutoring to keep them in school. Edwards will also fund additional guidance counselors in high-poverty schools. [Baron, 2005; Alliance for Excellent Education, 2007; Balfranz and Legters, 2004; NCES, 2004]

Support High School Service Programs

The energy and enthusiasm of high school students who want to make their community and their country a better place to live. One type of service program, service-learning, has been shown to have positive impacts on students' civic engagement, college enrollment, career development, and personal relationships. Nearly half of school-age children lack the activities and role models that are opportunities to make a difference through helping others. Edwards will create a Community Corps service programs for high school students. It will provide resources to high schools that choose to make community service a graduation requirement, helping them make service opportunities higher in quality and integrate them into the curriculum. [NYLC, 2006; America's Promise Alliance, undated]