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AEP Online |
NCLB Hearings Abound as 2007 Reauthorization Draws NearWe all will be seeing more news and attention on the effect of NCLB as the 2007 reauthorization date approaches. Public hearings are one way that information about the success of NCLB is being gathered. In the past few months education think tanks and commissions have been holding such hearings throughout the United States. US House Education leaders announced their intent to elicit public input with a series of hearings to begin this week on May 18. Hearings have been held by diverse organizations on a wide variety of topics over the past six months. Here’s an update on some of the hearings and where you can read more: * Public Education Network held hearings in US cities from San Francisco to Boston with more than 1,500 participants over a five-month period. In their report, Open to the Public: The Public Speaks Out on No Child Left Behind, they describe the frustration of parents and communities who want to be involved but are many times excluded from the process. In addition they listed public recommendations that reflect the need for changing how progress is measured and emphasized parental involvement. The full report is available online at www.publiceducation.org. * The Commission on No Child Left Behind at the Aspen Institute, led by former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, began their hearings in April and will have a total of four through June. Each hearing has a specific topic and the May 9 hearing focused on the progress of Connecticut's lawsuit over testing. You can find their hearing schedule and webcasts of past hearings at www.aspeninstitute.org. * US House education leaders announced last week that they will hold a new set of hearings on NCLB. These hearings are in addition to the series of 10 hearings they have already held. The May 18 hearing will examine the laws intense focus on math and reading and the assertion that curriculum subject matter is shrinking as a result. Future topics may include an evaluation of the AYP measure, how subgroups are included in the AYP, the role of supplemental educational materials in the reauthorized bill, teacher quality and parental involvement. For more, go to www.edworkforce.house.gov. Providing education to these public forums is a valuable way to get the message out that supplemental educational materials are fundamental to classroom instruction and improving the quality of education. If you need assistance with how to testify or what might be the correct venue for your organization to comment on NCLB, contact Jennifer Hill at jhill@AEPweb.org. Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 856-241-7772. |
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to the Public: The Public Speaks Out on No Child Left Behind The Commission on No Child Left Behind at the Aspen
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