News from the National Education Association (nea.org)
Note: These rss news feed entries are [supposed] to be updated daily from National Education Association sources.They apprear here "automatically" - click the links to read each news article.
NEA: No Child Left Behind - NCLB - ESEA
The National Education Association has consistently sought to guarantee every child an equal opportunity to succeed in our nation's public schools. NCLB purports to seek the same thing, but has instead created a host of new bureaucratic tangles. In fact, it presents real obstacles to helping students and strengthening public schools. Find out why and what NEA is doing about it.
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NCLB/ESEA News Archive
2007
NEA Sets Top Priorities for NCLB/ESEA Reauthorization March 2007
NEA President Testifies Before NCLB Joint Congressional Hearing March 2007
Study Points to NCLB Changes Congress Should Consider March 2007
Educator Explains: 'Teachers Want What Is Good for Students' March 2007
Senators Seek Overhaul of NCLB Testing Mandates February 2007
Proposed Rules for 'Highly Qualified Effective Teachers' Called 'Ill-Conceived' February 2007
Coalition Urges Focus on Capacity-Building February 2007
Forum on Educational Accountability (FEA) issues report, Redefining Accountability: Improving Student Learning by Building Capacity ( PDF, Executive Summary, 9 pages)
Maryland Member Participates in NCLB Reauthorization Roundtable February 2007
Fifth Anniversary Presents Opportunity To Revamp No Child Left Behind Act January 2007
Colorado NCLB Survey Supports Need for Resources, Flexibility January 2007
2006
More States Allowed to Use 'Growth Model' November 2006
Court Hears NEA Appeal in NCLB Lawsuit November 2006
NEA President Offers Ideas to Reform NCLB September 2006
NCLB Testing May Be Turning Kids Off to Reading September 2006
21st Century Group Offers Ideas to Improve NCLB August 2006
Public, NEA Members Agree on NCLB's Effects August 2006
NEA Highlights NCLB's Impact on Students with Disabilities August 2006
NEA Members' Stories Help Efforts to Fix NCLB August 2006
NEA Announces Positive Agenda for ESEA Reauthorization July 2006
NEA President Testifies on No Child Left Behind July 2006
NEA Delegates Launch Campaign to Improve NCLB July 2006
Education Dept. Approves Testing Programs for 10 States July 2006
Make Your Voice Heard: Share Your ESEA Story June 2006
New NCLB Policy Puts Teachers' Careers in Jeopardy June 2006
No State Will Meet 'Highly Qualified' Requirements May 2006
Math, Science Education Depends on Quality Teachers May 2006
Moving Beyond NCLB -- Plenty of Room for Improvement May 2006
NEA Urges Members to Share Views on NCLB April 2006
Dr. Merchuria Chase Williams, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, testified at the third in a series of regional hearings the Commission is holding around the country.
California teacher Pixie Hayward-Schickele testified before the commission at its first hearing in the series on April 11, 2006.
Schools lack funding to comply with NCLB March 2006
Harvard Civil Rights Project Report: The Unraveling of NCLB February 2006
Nine Changes Help NCLB, But More Needs To Be Done February 2006
NEA: Little to Celebrate After Four Years of NCLB January 2006
2005
Dept. of Education Improves Special Ed Testing December 2005
NCLB 'Growth Model' Plan Called Step in Right Direction November 2005
High-Stakes Testing Doesn't Increase Student Achievement September 2005
NEA Applauds Relaxing Rules for Schools Hit by Storms September 2005
NCLB Researcher Says 'Fail Now or Fail Later' September 2005
NCLB Leaves Native American Students Behind October 2005
Studies Find Growing Discontent with NCLB August 2005
Study predicts high failure rate under NCLB July 2005
NEA Lauds Connecticut Lawsuit Against NCLB August 2005
NCLB Doesn't Help Keep Quality Teachers May 2005
NEA Stands Up for Children and Parents April 2005
Law Allows Military to Recruit in Schools April 2005
New NCLB Changes Provide Flexibility April 2005
Policy Center Issues New NCLB Report March 2005
NEA Hails Bipartisan Call to Improve NCLB February 2005
Coalition Web Site Wins National Award February 2005
School Boards, NEA Agree on NCLB Fixes January 2005
Extending NCLB to HS Called "Premature" January 2005
Take the NCLB Test January 2005
NCLB Ruling Causes More Confusion January 2005
2004
Teachers: Reforms Require Resources September 2004
Coalition Mobilizes for Public Education September 2004
Florida Test Scores Confuse Parents, Politicians, Educators October 2004
Bill Proposed to Bring Fairness to Changes in NCLB Rules June 2004
NEA testifies on school modernization
25 Feb 2008 at 12:00am
NEA Testifies on School Modernization Issues
One of NEA's goals in the reauthorization of NCLB is to create a new program of federal support for school modernization and repairs, and Association member and math teacher Judi Caddick testified at a Feb. 13 hearing on Capitol Hill about the importance of physical conditions of schools.
"In my experience, and the experience of my colleagues, school modernization enhances student learning in many ways," Caddick said in her testimony. "Simply put, America's public schools are in desperate need of repair and renovation, and the research is clear — school conditions impact student learning."
The Illinois educator urged lawmakers to create new school construction projects, tax credits for school modernization bonds, and a federal grant program for school renovations. "Federal assistance is particularly needed to ensure the targeting of resources to communities with the greatest needs," said Caddick.
NEA President Reg Weaver echoed Caddick's call for Congress to support legislation that would help finance the modernization of the nation's public schools.
The physical condition of public schools is critical to student achievement and teacher morale," said Weaver. "Schools with the latest technology and learning tools help students acquire the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century. Modern public schools are basic for better teaching and learning. Great public schools begin with modern facilities."
NEA supports bills that would add a school modernization grant program to ESEA including the Public School Repair and Renovation Act (H.R. 3902/S.1942 ), introduced by Representative Loebsack (D-IA) and Senator Harkin (D-IA) and the 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 3021 ), introduced by Representative Chandler (D-KY).
Related content:
Take action now! Tell your U.S. Senators and Representatives: Ensure all students the world-class learning environment they deserve.
NCLB needs to be overhauled
6 Feb 2008 at 12:00am
The No Child Left Behind Act Needs To Be Fundamentally Overhauled
In the six years since the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which is the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), its many policy flaws, false assumptions, unintended consequences, and botched implementation have become all too apparent. The Congress needs to make fundamental changes to the law as articulated in NEA's principles for ESEA reauthorization.
NCLB has failed in its own fundamental purpose - to raise student test scores and close achievement gaps.
Reading and math test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) demonstrate that there was a faster rate of improvement in student achievement before NCLB than since its enactment.
According to a July 2007 article in the Educational Researcher, "progress in raising test scores was stronger before No Child Left Behind was approved in 2002, compared with the four years following enactment of the law."
A new book by the Civil Rights Project at UCLA, Holding NCLB Accountable, finds that "the No Child Left Behind Act's current accountability system provides insufficient evidence that the law has succeeded in raising student achievement levels or closing the nation's racial achievement gap.…"
NCLB is narrowing the curriculum.
According to a July 2007 Center on Education Policy report, 44 percent of school districts reported cutting time from one or more other subjects or activities (social studies, science, art and music, physical education, lunch and/or recess) at the elementary level to devote more time to reading and math.
NCLB is too focused on standardized tests.
Schools are measured and held accountable solely on the results of the statewide reading and math tests. New research by a University of Maryland professor finds that NCLB's focus on high-stakes testing "has actually undermined the quality of teaching in reading and math." The research further found, "There were declines in teaching higher-order thinking, in the amount of time spent on complex assignments, and in the actual amount of high cognitive content in the curriculum. We believe these declines are related to the pressure teachers were feeling to 'teach to the test.'"
NCLB is a severely underfunded mandate that is shortchanging our students and public schools.
In the seven years of funding provided for NCLB (Fiscal Years 2002-2008), the cumulative funding gap between actual funding and the amounts authorized in the law has grown to a staggering $70.9 billion. President Bush's proposed FY 09 budget would increase that gap to $85.7 billion.
In terms of the single largest NCLB program, Title I, for example, in the current school year, 59 percent of all Title I school districts will receive less funding than they did the previous year.
With districts and states denied federal funding and support for schools to follow the mandates of NCLB, NEA filed suit over the issue. In January of this year, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Secretary of Education's interpretation of the law violates the Spending Clause of the Constitution.
NCLB will eventually result in almost all schools failing.
Independent studies by highly qualified researchers in 11 states conclude that under NCLB's label-and-punish structure, most schools will fail to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) by 2014, based on the law's requirement that 100 percent of students achieve proficiency in both reading and math.
There is a growing chorus of voices calling for fundamental changes to the law.
" There are now 142 national organizations that have signed the Joint Organizational Statement on NCLB that calls for significant reforms to the law.
The American public and educators agree with the need for changes.
According to an August 2007 PDK/Gallup poll, 7 in 10 Americans believe the current emphasis on testing encourages teachers to teach to the test. Of those that believe this, 8 in 10 feel that teaching to the test is a bad thing. In addition, "One in two Americans believes that NCLB's focus on reading and math has reduced instructional time on other subjects."
Educators hold similar views. A June 2006 poll of NEA members found that 69 percent disapprove of NCLB and 85 percent believe there is too much reliance on standardized testing.
February 2008
NCLB in the News - NEA
17 Jan 2008 at 12:00am
'No Child Left Behind' in the News
Read what parents, educators, elected leaders, and other concerned citizens have to say about the impact of NCLB on school budgets, culture, and learning.
This collection of news and opinions from around the country is updated frequently, so check back regularly.
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Do state tests make the grade?
...On the whole, however, state spending on testing has shot up since George W. Bush’s education plan became the law of the land. In early 2001, a year before No Child Left Behind was enacted, states collectively spent almost $423 million on standardized tests, according to a Stateline.org report. During the 2007- 08 school year, states will spend almost $1.1 billion on these tests, according to Eduventures Inc., an education industry research firm.
Stateline.org article by Pauline Vu
Jan. 17, 2008
White House official touts unpopular 'No Child Left Behind'
OLYMPIA -- The Bush administration sought advice from [Washington] Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire at a local elementary school Wednesday in an effort to tune up and promote its unpopular No Child Left Behind program.
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings met with Gregoire and state educators to discuss planned improvements to the program. But while the governor and educators applauded No Child Left Behind for initiating much-needed reform, they criticized the act as being "all stick and no carrot" for placing an unfair burden on local schools.
Seattle Post Intellingencer article by Brian Slodysko
Jan. 16, 2008
Teachers feel left behind
...[Christina] Meeks and many other local educators blame the federal No Child Left Behind Act for causing powerful discontent and demoralization among teachers. She said she never thought the politics of public education would affect her job so much. And she never thought she would consider leaving her beloved profession.
Yakima Herald article by James Joyce III
Jan. 13, 2008
Court Revives Lawsuit Against No Child Left Behind Law
A federal appeals court on Monday revived a legal challenge to the federal No Child Left Behind education law, saying that school districts have been justified in complaining that the law required them to pay for testing and other programs without providing sufficient federal money.
...Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association, said the ruling "indicates that if the federal government hands down programs, it's their responsibility to pay for them, so that's a victory for the students of America."
The New York Times article by Sam Dillon
Jan. 8, 2008
Court Revives No Child Left Behind Suit
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A federal appeals court on Monday [Jan.7, 2008] revived a challenge to the funding of the No Child Left Behind education law.
School districts in three states and the nation's largest teachers' union sued the government, arguing that schools should not have to comply with requirements that aren't funded by the federal government and that the government is imposing unfunded mandates, even though the act itself prohibits unfunded mandates.
Associated Press article by Tim Martin
Jan. 7, 2008
Empower teachers, principals
This all-stick-no-carrot approach perpetuates a top-down system where power is held by people who have no accountability for the work to be done. The accountability rests on people who have the least control over the situation.
This is crazy.
So, is NCLB a bad law? Yes and no.
The law has a good heart. But that's about all.
Detroit Free Press Op-Ed by Barry McGhan
Jan. 3, 2008
Fewer R.I. high schools met requirements in 2007
PROVIDENCE [RI] -- Fewer Ocean State high schools met the annual requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act in 2007 than in 2006, the R.I. Department of Education reported today.
..."Because of the inflexibility of the No Child Left Behind Act, many schools in Rhode Island and throughout the nation are being identified for improvement when they have missed only one target," [state commissioner of elementary and secondary education Peter] McWalters said.
Providence Business News article
Jan. 3, 2008
Inaction on No Child Left Behind dismays schools
Educators optimistic that changes would be made to the federal No Child Left Behind law easing some of its strict requirements are leaving hope behind.
Congress hasn't made a move to reauthorize or change the law, which expires this month. As attention turns to the presidential election in November, serious changes to the law may have to wait until after the winner takes office in 2009.
Tennessean.com article by Jaime Sarrio
Jan. 1, 2008
States can design own NCLB plans
Utah school leaders have long complained No Child Left Behind focuses only on whether students achieve a certain test score instead of giving credit for the progress kids are making.
Now, the U.S. Department of Education is saying all states can apply to create a system -- officials are calling it a "growth model" -- that takes into account students' academic progress from one year to the next.
Deseret Morning News article by Jennifer Toomer-Cook
Dec. 19, 2007
Appeals Court Rule States, School Districts Not Required To Spend Own Funds T...
8 Jan 2008 at 12:00am
Read NEA's News Release
Questions & Answers about Lawsuit, Appeals Court Ruling
Connecticut Attorney General: Court Validates State's Own Struggle
Background Information on Lawsuit Challenging NCLB's Unfunded Mandates
Ding! Round 2 goes to the children!
Federal appeals court backs NEA challenge to NCLB
The battle to change the so-called "No Child Left Behind Act" took a dramatic turn Jan. 7 when a U.S. Court of Appeals panel sided with NEA's side in a crucial lawsuit against with the federal Department of Education.
"The court's message couldn't be more clear: If the president is sincere about continuing No Child Left Behind, he needs to put his money where his mouth is," said NEA President Reg Weaver.
NEA, along with several state associations and school districts, went to court back in 2005, contending that the feds could not make states and districts spend their own money, beyond available federal funds, to carry out the law's draconian mandates. NEA lawyers pointed to a specific passage in the law to that effect.
But the Bush Administration insisted Washington was under no obligation to pay. A federal judge agreed and dismissed the suit. NEA appealed, and on Jan. 7, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the earlier ruling, stating that the Secretary of Education was violating the spending clause of the Constitution. The court said if Congress really wants to make states and districts pay NCLB costs, Congress must change the law to say so.
The ruling, according to NEA general counsel Bob Chanin, puts states and districts in a strong position to carry out NCLB directives only as far as available federal funds cover. NCLB funds have fallen $70 billion short of what was originally promised.
The ruling adds fuel to efforts by NEA and many others to overhaul the law. NEA maintains that a massive increase in federal funding is a badly needed investment in the nation's future -- but the money should go for smaller classes and other proven ways to improve children's education, not mandated high-stakes testing, which, according to national scores, is not helping.
-- Alain Jehlen
January 2008
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