Seeker 1313
Padawan Learner
Today's paper carried a story by Walter F. Roche Jr of the Los Angeles Times:
A Texas company headed by one of president bush's brother and partly owned by his parents is benefiting from republican connections and federal dollars targetd for economically disadvantaged students under the no child left behind act.
With investments from his parents, former president george h.w. and barbara bush, and other backers, neil bush's company, Ignite!Learning, has placed its products in 40 U.S. school districts and plans to market internationally.
At least 13 U.S. districts have used federal funds available through the president's signature education overhaul, the no child left behind act of 2001, to buy Ignite's portable learning centers at $3800 each!
The law provides federal funds to help school districts better serve disadvantaged students and improve their performance especially in reading and math. But Ignite does not offer reading instruction, and it's math program is not available until next year.
Former first lady barbra bush spurred controversy recently when she contributed to the Hurricane Katrina releif Foundation for storm victims who had relocated to Texas.
Her donation carried one stipulation: It had to be used by local schools for purchases of Ignite products.
Texas accounts for 75 percent of Ignites business. In Houston where neil bush and his parents live, the district has used various funding sources to acquire $400,000 in Ignite products. An additional $240,000 in purchase has been authorized in the last 6 months.
A Texas company headed by one of president bush's brother and partly owned by his parents is benefiting from republican connections and federal dollars targetd for economically disadvantaged students under the no child left behind act.
With investments from his parents, former president george h.w. and barbara bush, and other backers, neil bush's company, Ignite!Learning, has placed its products in 40 U.S. school districts and plans to market internationally.
At least 13 U.S. districts have used federal funds available through the president's signature education overhaul, the no child left behind act of 2001, to buy Ignite's portable learning centers at $3800 each!
The law provides federal funds to help school districts better serve disadvantaged students and improve their performance especially in reading and math. But Ignite does not offer reading instruction, and it's math program is not available until next year.
Former first lady barbra bush spurred controversy recently when she contributed to the Hurricane Katrina releif Foundation for storm victims who had relocated to Texas.
Her donation carried one stipulation: It had to be used by local schools for purchases of Ignite products.
Texas accounts for 75 percent of Ignites business. In Houston where neil bush and his parents live, the district has used various funding sources to acquire $400,000 in Ignite products. An additional $240,000 in purchase has been authorized in the last 6 months.
