This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

New School Rules

By Nellie Gonzalez

Within the next five years, your school will not only be handing out report cards, it will be getting a report card too. On January 8, President George W. Bush signed a wide-reaching education bill that will give schools $26 billion while increasing the federal government's role in public education.

For kids, the big news is that the law requires students in grades three through eight to take state reading and math tests every year. Schools will have to present annual report cards comparing their students' test scores with those of other schools. Schools that fail to meet state standards will be subject to "tough corrective actions."

The government plans to give more money to schools with large numbers of poor students in hopes of closing the gaps in scores between rich and poor. "It's time to spend billions of dollars and get good results," said Bush.

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