The availability of quality public education is key to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to succeed. In the new economy where earning potential depends on educational achievement, ensuring our children are meeting world-class standards is critical to their future and the future of the nation.

As First Lady, Mrs. Clinton has encouraged education reform initiatives designed to improve the quality of the public education our children receive, including teacher quality, increasing academic standards and accountability, and efforts to ensure that children are mastering the basics. She has been a supporter of public charter schools and a strong advocate for early childhood education to ensure children enter school ready to learn.

School Improvement

The National Education Association's Friend of Education Award Presentation to the First Lady (7/5/99)

Remarks by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at Albert Shanker Award for Distinguished Service New York State United Teachers (4/22/99)

Jill and Ken Iscol Lecture Series Address, Teachers College, Columbia University (4/19/99)

Remarks to the Chicago Public Schools' Principals (6/3/98)

Column on Chicago Public Schools (5/27/98)

Column on Public Education (5/20/98)

Remarks at the Chicago Children's Museum (2/18/97)

For more information on this topic, please visit the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Program at the US Department of Education.

Charter Schools

• White House Discussion on Charter Schools (8/4/98)

For more information on this topic, please visit the US Charter Schools website developed with the Department of Education .

• Column on Education and Teachers (4/21/99)
• Remarks at the Qualifed Teachers in Every Classroom Event with the President (1/21/99)
• Remarks at the 1997 Education Awards Ceremony (2/7/97)

  For more information on this topic, please visit the Teachers Web Page at the Department of Education.

Education Standards

For more information on this topic, please visit the National Education Goals at the Department of Education.

Commencement Addresses

• Ohio University Commencement Address (6/14/97)
• Banneker High School Commencement Address (6/13/97)
• University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Commencement Address (5/11/96)
• Remarks at The Alice Deal Junior High School Promotional Exercises, Washington DC (6/9/95)
• Brooklyn College Commencement Address, Brooklyn, NY (6/1/95)
• University of Pennsylvania Commencement Address (5/17/93)
• University of Michigan Commencement Address (5/1/93)