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Regulations for Schools Increase While Funding Remains Mostly LevelNovember 4 , 2008—On September 30, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, which includes education funding. Although the original education appropriations bill had asked for increases for most programs, President Bush would not sign the bill. Congress imposed cuts from the original funding request across on all programs in this omnibus bill in order to get it signed. Reading First, however, will only get about one-third of its 2007 appropriation. A month later Secretary of Education Spellings has released new NCLB regulations. Chief among these is that all states will use the same formula to calculate how many students graduate from high school on time and how many drop out. Her goal is to create meaningful accountability through the law. The final regulations define the "four year adjusted cohort graduation rate" as the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who entered high school four years earlier, adjusted for transfers, students who emigrate and deceased students. Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, schools must use this formula, and results must be made publicly available. In addition, parents must be clearly notified about public school choice and available supplemental education services, as well as the ratings of the supplemental services. "...These services can't make a difference if parents don't know they're available," said Secretary Spellings at a speech at the South Carolina Educational Television in Columbia, SC. "One survey found that in urban districts, only half of parents knew their children were eligible. So we must do a better job of helping parents understand their options." For more information "U.S.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Announces Final Regulations to Strengthen
No Child Left Behind" "U.S.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Announces Final Title I Regulations" | |||||
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