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November 29, 2007
Leaving NCLB behind?We noticed that the Washington Post editorial page took to task nearly all the presidential candidates for saying very little of substance when it comes to the No Child Left Behind Act. We've noticed too. In debate after debate this year, education overall, including NCLB, has received less attention than Rudy Giuliani's recent support for the Boston Red Sox.
The Post editorial also notes the "Congressional inertia" that threatens to derail NCLB reauthorization past the 2008 elections. As BoardBuzz has said before, that would be a disservice to our schools and students. It is hard to find anyone, in Congress, in schools, in local communities, who thinks NCLB is working well and can be left untouched for another 2 or 3 years. And as Education Week's David Hoff darkly warns, it's taken Congress forever to reauthorize relatively non-controversial programs like Head Start and Higher Education. So punting NCLB to a new administration and Congress could, gasp, potentially mean no improvements or relief until 2010? 2011? One would have to say it's at least possible.
Or, Congress can step up and make the substantive improvements needed. Without improvements, more and more schools will be misidentified for missing AYP under the current, flawed system, and will face costly and ineffective sanctions. One solution to the problem is the comprehensive H.R. 648, which more and more Democrats and Republicans are supporting.
For more details on why Congress needs to improve NCLB check out NSBA's recent letters to the House and Senate.
Posted November 29, 2007 2:31 PM | No Child Left Behind
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