This letter to the editor by Kristine Cohn, Secretary's Regional Representative in Region V, appeared in the News and Tribune on March 21, 2007.

"Harsh"? "Sinister"? Designed to "fail"? The descriptions of the No Child Left Behind Act in a March 1, 2007, recent article defy belief.

First, the law was not passed by a bipartisan Congress to ensure that "all school systems will eventually fail." The opposite is true. Across the country, test scores in reading and math are up, while achievement gaps between Hispanic and African-American students and their white classmates have finally begun to close. This is good news, and it validates Americans' confidence in public education.

Second, NCLB does not signal a federal takeover of education. To the contrary, it has reinvigorated the traditional leadership role played by the states. For the first time, all 50 states have accountability plans in place. And all 50 states assess students annually so teachers and parents can identify and fix problem areas before it's too late.

Finally, NCLB has focused America's attention on chronically underperforming schools. About 2,000 have failed to meet their academic goals for five years running. That's not a fluke, that's a tragedy. Under the law, parents, teachers, and community leaders may work together to restructure, restaff, and reopen such schools. President Bush's 2008 budget would support their efforts with $500 million in new funding to hire new teachers, extend the hours of the school day, or make other needed changes.

We will not rest until all students can read and do math at grade level or better. As a parent, I don't believe that is too much to ask of our schools.

Kristine Cohn
Secretary's Regional Representative
Region V
U.S. Department of Education