This letter to the editor by Mary Cohen, Secretary's Regional Representative in Region VII, appeared in the Kansas City Star (Missouri) on May 6, 2007.

Your editorial "Time to fix No Child Left Behind; States should be allowed to opt out of federal testing requirements" (4/22) argues that it's "time to give the states more flexibility." We agree.

U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has worked with states to tailor the No Child Left Behind Act to meet their individual needs. We've allowed the use of growth models to measure student achievement over time. Children with disabilities may now take a modified test. Students with limited English proficiency may be exempted from testing altogether if they've attended U.S. schools for less than 12 months. And extra time has been granted to ensure that all teachers are highly qualified.

There is one principle we cannot compromise, however. Assessments are at the heart of accountability. Without them, teachers cannot use the data to drive change. Students who fall behind will once again fall through the cracks.

Misguided efforts to weaken accountability would set back the strong academic gains we've already made, particularly in the early grades. Reading and math scores are at all-time highs, and achievement gaps are closing.

This is not the time to slow down our progress. Changes to No Child Left Behind should keep the law intact, and the momentum moving forward.

Mary Cohen
Secretary's Regional Representative
Region VII
U.S. Department of Education