Fifty Years Later (NAPSA)—Fifty years ago, African American students in many states were legally forbidden from attending schools with white children. But in the landmarkcivil rights case Brown vs. Board of Education, the Supreme Court declared that the doctrineof “separate but equal” was unconstitutional, and thus the desegregation of schools began. Despite strong resistance by somestates, districts and individu- als, progress continued and the movement begun by Brown was strengthened by the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In the following decades, an achievementgap left manyof the very children who were to have benefited from Brown without the education they deserved. Two years ago, President Bush and both Democrat and Republican members of Congress passed a powerful, sweeping law that challenges the status quo of educational mediocrity. The No Child Left Behind Act is the logical next step to Brown in providing all children a quality education, regardless of where they attend school or the color of their skin. This law was designed to address the achievement gap that separates so many disadvantaged students from their peers. For the first time in history, every state has a plan in place that holds all its schools and students to the same high standards. Parents are being empowered with options and information. And a bold new course is being charted for America’s educational system.
