Thursday January 29, 2009
No Child Left Behind
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 Listen to Mike introduce the Improving No Child Left Behind Act, 17 Nov 2006 |
See also:  |
Senator Crapo receives an award from the National School Boards Association for his efforts to improve the No Child Left Behind law. |
As a father and a legislator, I am committed to advocating for public education in Idaho and throughout the nation. President Bush’s sweeping education reforms included in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) have had measurable positive effects on many students across the country, and I support the law’s objective of ensuring that every child achieves his or her potential.
However, given time to observe the implementation of the law, it is now appropriate to review opportunities for needed improvements to the underlying program. After conferring with a number of organizations in Idaho and at the national level, I have identified concerns that seem common to various stakeholder groups. In response, I have introduced S. 348, the Improving No Child Left Behind Act (INCLB). This bill preserves the major focus on student achievement and accountability, and at the same time ensure that schools and school districts are accurately and fairly assessed. The changes are supported by national education groups and thousands of teachers, school boards, and local schools across the country.
Much of my bill mirrors what is contained in the Senate Joint Memorial No. 108 recently passed by the Idaho State Legislature. INCLB would allow supplemental services like tutoring to be offered to students sooner than they are currently available. It would provide flexibility for states to use additional types of assessment models such as growth models for measuring student progress. The bill would grant states more flexibility in assessing students with disabilities, and ensure more fair and accurate assessments of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students. INCLB would create a student testing participation range, providing flexibility for unfortunate but uncontrollable variations in student attendance. It would allow schools to target resources to those student populations who need the most attention by applying sanctions only when the same student group fails to make adequate progress (AYP) in the same subject for two years. Finally, the bill would ensure that students are counted properly in assessment and reporting systems. I am committed to working both legislatively and administratively to increase flexibility for states and local school districts under NCLB.
We all have a responsibility to promote successful, meaningful public education for the children of Idaho. Each of us has an individual part to play that combined, creates a coordinated response to the challenges we face in education today. Please rest assured I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure NCLB becomes an avenue to success for educators and students throughout Idaho and the nation.
Useful Links:
Letter of support from the National Education Association
News release of support from National School Boards Association
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