Have a Better School Plan? Bush Ready to Hear It

President Bush sent a strong signal Saturday that he is willing to compromise on his call for school vouchers--the most controversial aspect of his initiative to reform public education in America.

In his first radio address as president, Bush touted his plan to funnel federal dollars to low-income families whose children attend troubled schools. Among other purposes, those dollars could be used for private school tuition.

Such an option, Bush said, would be an effective way to spur improvement at the poorly performing schools. But in mentioning the idea, he avoided the term “voucher,” a hot-button word that sparks instant opposition among teacher groups. He also made it clear that he is willing to consider other proposals.

“There are some honest differences of opinion in Congress about what form these options [to help troubled schools] should take,” Bush said. “I have my own plan, which would help children in persistently failing schools to go to another public, private or charter school. Others suggest different approaches, and I am willing to listen.”

Bush primarily used his speech to review his overall education reform plan, which he unveiled Tuesday.

The president stressed that he believes local school districts should have more authority and flexibility to control their own programs. “My plan respects the principle of local control. It does not try to run the schools from a central office in Washington,” he said.

He reiterated his call for annual testing of every child, in exams “developed and administered by states and local districts, not the federal government.” Under his plan, states would gain or lose federal money based on the results of those tests.

“Many schools, particularly those in poor neighborhoods, will need help to meet high standards, and they will have it, including a new $5-billion initiative over five years for reading instruction,” he said.

But he warned that the money would not last forever: “We will not continue to pour taxpayers’ money into schools that do not teach and will not change.”

Under Bush’s plan, vouchers would be available for disadvantaged students attending schools that fail to reach certain standards in three consecutive years. The vouchers could be used for transportation and other costs caused by going to a different public school, for attending a private school or for tutoring.

House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), who delivered the Democratic response to the radio address, said his party agrees with Bush’s goals for education reform. But he stressed that vouchers are not the answer.

“Vouchers drain funds from failing schools at the very moment when schools need these resources the most. This could leave children behind,” he said.

Bush’s plan, a cornerstone of his presidential campaign, proposes that states test students in reading and math every year from third through eighth grades. Based on the results, states would either gain or lose federal funds.

The plan would create programs aimed at ensuring that all students can read by third grade. It seeks to improve teacher quality, especially in reading and math. And it would expand technology in the classroom and boost school safety.

Given the scope of his proposal and the prospect of difficult negotiations with Congress over many of its details, Bush set an ambitious timetable for its passage. “I ask that we act before this summer, when schools begin planning for the next school year,” he said.

The Saturday radio address is an offspring of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats. Richard Nixon was the first president to establish the radio address as a fixture of his week, but his two immediate successors, Presidents Ford and Carter, did not continue them. President Reagan, who was once a radio broadcaster, restored the weekly broadcasts, but President George Bush used them infrequently.

President Clinton delivered the speeches weekly, often using them to launch new initiatives. He liked to perform them in front of an audience.

President Bush said he would keep with Clinton’s tradition--but if Saturday’s address is the norm, Bush won’t be performing in front of an audience. He taped his first address in the Oval Office with only technicians present.

*

Times staff writer James Gerstenzang contributed to this story.