AFT president Edward J. McElroy has extended his congratulations to President Bush on his reelection and outlined some key issues that the union would like to work on with the administration in the coming months.

"I look forward to continuing to work with your administration on many important goals and priorities, including helping every child in the United States have access to a high-quality public education," McElroy wrote in a Nov. 10 letter to the president. "We welcome your recently stated intention to focus on high school reform to improve literacy and graduation rates at that level."

McElroy's letter also cited priority areas that the union would like to work with the administration in advancing, including economic renewal, greatly increased access to quality healthcare and the strengthening of Medicare and Social Security. "These issues are important to our members and the nation, and we strong support their advancement," he said.

Also, the AFT is looking forward to continuing its "good working relationship" with President Bush's nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, White House domestic policy adviser Margaret Spellings, said McElroy in a Nov. 17 statement. The union has worked with Spellings in the past and has found her to be "accessible, open and willing to listen," he said.