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555 Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Ph: 202.224.6342
Fax: 202.224.1100
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Raleigh Office:
310 New Bern Avenue
Suite 122
Raleigh, NC 27601
Ph: 919.856.4630
Toll Free: 866.420.6083
Fax: 919.856.4053
Salisbury Office:
225 North Main Street
Suite 304
Salisbury, NC 28144
Ph: 704.633.5011
Toll Free: 866.420.6084
Fax: 704.633.2937
Western Office:
401 North Main Street
Suite 200
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Ph: 828.698.3747
Fax: 828.698.1267
Eastern Office:
306 South Evans Street
Greenville, NC 27835
Ph: 252.329.1093
Fax: 252.329.1097
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Articles
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SCHOOL REFORM IS WORKING
No Child Left Behind Act is well funded and making a difference
Author: Elizabeth Dole
Publication: Charlotte Observer |
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March 12th, 2004 - A recent guest editorial accused the president and Congress of not meeting the funding obligations of the No Child Left Behind Act. Unfortunately, much of this was centered on misinformation and a blurred view of the facts. Let me touch on a few of the many reasons that NCLB received wide bipartisan support when it passed Congress in 2001.
NCLB raises academic standards, holds schools accountable for performance, requires that every child learn to read, works to ensure that there is a quality teacher in every classroom, and provides more choices and flexibility for parents.
Accountability is the cornerstone of what makes NCLB so bold and visionary. In the past, the federal government would send checks to fund education and hope something good might happen. Now the government is sending checks -- at record levels, contrary to partisan charges -- and asking school systems to show what progress they're making and what problems need to be addressed.
Education is a federal priority but must have local control. A person who understands that is Dr. Jim Pughsley, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Seven years ago, 35 percent of African-American fifth graders in his district were reading at grade level. Today, 78 percent are. Seven years ago 59 percent of all fifth graders were reading at grade level. Now 86 percent are. These extraordinary accomplishments are the kind of example all schools in our state can follow.
It is important to dispel the myth that NCLB is under funded. Nothing could be further from the truth. America's schools are experiencing record levels of federal funding. In fact, Congress has increased education spending by $7.4 billion, or 43 percent, since President Bush has been in office. To date, more education money has been passed than during the previous administration's entire eight-year term! The president's $13.3 billion request for FY 2005 would be an increase of $4.6 billion, or 52 percent, since 2001. The teacher training and recruitment budget increased significantly -- by about 40 percent -- since 2001. And the flexibility added by NCLB enables states, districts and schools to spend the money more freely than ever, so long as they do what works to improve student learning and achievement.
Despite these facts, I continue to hear concerns that these unprecedented funding levels are inadequate for states like North Carolina to implement NCLB. In fact, states are not fully using the federal education funds available to them in a timely manner.
As of Jan. 6, the state of North Carolina has failed to use almost $55 million in federal education funds designated for N.C. public schools and students, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Some of the funds have been sitting unused for as long as three and a half years.
According to U.S. Department of Education data, the total includes more than $29 million for disadvantaged children, more than $8 million for school improvement and more than $13 million to assist children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Because of strong accountability measures, good teachers and adequate funding for NCLB, the results have been quite positive. Math test scores around the nation since 2000 are up 9 points for fourth-graders and 5 points for eighth-graders.
The United States is the leader of the free world. Why should we settle for lagging behind many nations in education? President Bush has not accepted the status quo. NCLB is the broadest reform of American education since President Lyndon B. Johnson's reforms of the 1960s.
I welcome good-faith efforts to improve NCLB and look forward to working with members of Congress from both parties, educators and parents to refine and implement it.
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