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NCLB in the News
President Bush's landmark education bill, the No Child Left Behind
Act has been making a number of headlines in recent months. In
its third year, the legislation has met with opposition on a number
of different fronts; now it is faced with its biggest challenge
yet--a federal lawsuit filed by the nation's largest teachers union,
the National Education Association (NEA). AEP has put together
a summary of key happenings and issues you should know about.
January 31
Margaret Spellings was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Education.
In her first remarks as ED Secretary, she vowed to "stay
the course" with regards to No Child Left Behind legislation.
February 23
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released a
75-page, bipartisan report based on findings from their NCLB
task force. According to the report, the No Child Left Behind
Act has set goals that are "admirable, but unattainable," and
has stifled innovation in the nation's schools. The NCSL provided
a list of recommended changes to the legislation, including a
request that the federal government fully fund the act and remove
the one-size-fits-all method of measuring student performance.
April 5
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced the state's
intentions to challenge NCLB legislation with a federal lawsuit.
The suit would contend the law illegally and unconstitutionally
requires states and communities to spend millions more than the
federal government provides for test development and school reform
programs. The Department of Education maintained that Connecticut's
argument was based on a flawed cost study of the No Child Left
Behind Act.
April 7
At a meeting of state education chiefs, Spellings announced the
Education Department's new "common sense" approach
to NCLB implementation. According to a Department of Education
release, the new policy, called "Raising Achievement: A
New Path for No Child Left Behind," will grant states additional
flexibility if they can show they are raising student achievement.
April 18
Connecticut education officials met with Margaret Spellings in
an attempt to settle their dispute over annual testing requirements
in the No Child Left Behind Act. According to a report in the
Hartford Courant, the meeting was cordial but little progress
was made. After the meeting, Connecticut Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal said there were no plans to drop the state's planned
lawsuit.
April 19
Utah legislators passed legislation that directs state school leaders
to put Utah's education priorities ahead of NCLB mandates, despite
warnings from Education Secretary Margaret Spellings that noncompliance
with the federal education law could cost the state $76 million
in federal funds.
April 20
The National Education Association, joined by school districts
from three states, filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for
Eastern Michigan against the federal government over provisions
in No Child Left Behind legislation. The suit named U.S. Secretary
of Education Margaret Spellings as its sole defendant. According
to an Associated Press report, the challenge was built upon one
paragraph in the law that says no state or school district can
be forced to spend its money on expenses the federal government
has not covered.
April 22
The U.S. Department of Education issued a $444,282 fine to the
Texas Education Agency for failing to adhere to NCLB standards
regarding the education act's school transfer policy. The policy
requires that parents be notified before the school year begins
of their option to transfer their children out of a school that
failed to make adequate yearly progress, or AYP, for two consecutive
years. Texas did not notify districts of their schools' AYP status
until Sept. 27.
April 26
Maine Governor John Baldacci reported to the Associated Press that
his state was considering the possibility of joining the NEA
lawsuit challenging the No Child Left Behind Act.
May 1
In an editorial that appeared in USA Today, U.S. Secretary of Education
Margaret Spellings insisted that NCLB is working despite what
she referred to as "growing pains" experienced by those
states involved in the NEA lawsuit. She reiterated her willingness
to compromise with states on education issues if annual progress
is evidenced with accountability testing.
May 2
Utah became the first state to implement anti-NCLB legislation
when Governor John Huntsman signed into law a bill that gives
his state's education standards priority over the federal requirements
of No Child Left Behind.
Questions, ideas, or
in need of more information? Please contact Stacey
Pusey at 856-241-7772.
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