SEATTLE — The Seattle Public School District is the first in the nation to win approval of its plan to use an unprecedented flexibility provision of the No Child Left Behind Act, thus enabling the district to target certain federal funds to meet the unique needs of its students, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Ron Tomalis announced today.

Tomalis made the announcement on behalf of U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige as he joined Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Raj Manhas for the announcement at the Madrona K-8 school in Seattle. The Local Flexibility Demonstration Program (Local-Flex) allows approved school districts to consolidate certain federal formula grant funds to meet local priorities in exchange for increased accountability for student academic progress.

"No Child Left Behind is a tough law, but it's a good law," Tomalis said. "We know that every state and community is different—that's why the law is flexible and gives states and school districts the ability to focus resources on their individual needs. Today, we're pleased to announce that Seattle is the first school district in the nation to take advantage of Local-Flex, and we encourage other districts to follow Seattle's lead and take advantage of one of the law's untapped flexibility provisions to boost student achievement."

To be eligible for the program, local school districts must submit an application that consists of a five-year plan that shows how the district would consolidate funds to improve student achievement and make continued academic progress as defined by the state. The application must also show how the district would narrow achievement gaps among students.

All applications must include academic achievement data, specific and measurable annual education goals that the district proposes to achieve under Local-Flex and strategies for meeting those goals. School districts are selected on a competitive basis; up to 80 local school districts may be selected.

Local school districts may consolidate formula grant funds under the following programs: Teacher and Principal Training and Recruitment; Education Technology; Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities; and Innovative Programs.

Seattle's Local-Flex plan seeks to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools that failed to make adequate yearly progress and in schools that may have met adequate yearly progress but still failed to meet the needs of the lowest performing, underserved students.

The plan's strategies include improving teacher knowledge and skills in research-based practices and strategies; using data to improve instruction; improving beginning teacher quality; and enhancing technology in instruction. These activities will translate into additional services for the targeted schools, such as expert coaching for teachers in reading and mathematics; and mentors for beginning teachers, among others.

Seattle's plan also addresses other specific areas of need within the context of its large, urban school district, including substance abuse prevention and intervention; additional assistance to support students on long-term suspension as they re-enter regular school settings, and extra counseling and tutorial services for Hispanic students in schools with the largest Latino populations.

No Child Left Behind is designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options and teaching students based on what works.

Under the act's strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency. In addition, they must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress.

Schools that do not make adequate progress after two years must provide public school choice; followed by supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; then take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.

More information about the No Child Left Behind Act is available at www.ed.gov.

###

Top

Back to November 2003