WICHITA, Kan. ??? Kansas has completed work on a plan for a strong state accountability system aligned with the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, U.S. Department of Education General Counsel Brian Jones announced today.

Jones made the announcement on behalf of Secretary of Education Rod Paige during a visit to Jefferson Elementary School.  He was joined by State Commissioner of Education Andy Tompkins.

"Commissioner Tompkins and his team have put together a fantastic accountability system that will benefit every child in Kansas," said Jones.  "They have effectively demonstrated how states can use No Child Left Behind to benefit rural areas."

"I congratulate Commissioner Tompkins and all those who worked with his team to accomplish this," said Secretary Paige.  "I consider Kansas to be a national leader in implementing No Child Left Behind, especially with the way the state has used the flexibility in the law to address the unique challenges of rural areas.  With this plan in place, Kansas is well on its way to making sure no child is left behind, whether from an urban school, a suburb or a rural area."

Under NCLB's strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including disadvantaged students, 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 progress must provide supplemental services such as free tutoring or after-school assistance, take corrective actions and -- if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years -- must make dramatic changes in the way they operate.

Kansas is the eighth state to gain approval. Other states whose plans have been approved include Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York and Ohio.

No Child Left Behind is the landmark education reform law 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. Foremost among the four key principles is an insistence on stronger accountability for results. To achieve that, states must develop strong accountability systems or improve those already in place, establish high standards and hold all children to the same standards. They also must provide instruction by highly qualified teachers that results in steady progress and, ultimately, proficiency for all students by the 2013-14 school year.

Secretary Paige recently asserted that the new law aims to correct the "previous and pervasive 'separate and unequal' education systems that taught only some students well while the rest -- mostly poor and mostly minority -- floundered or flunked out."

All states submitted draft accountability plans to the U.S. Department of Education by the Jan. 31 deadline. Following an initial review and technical assistance, if needed, the next step is on-site peer review of each state's proposed accountability plan. Teams of three or four peer reviewers -- independent, nonfederal education policy, reform or statistical experts -- conduct each peer review. Following a review of the team's consensus report, the department provides feedback to the state and works with the state to resolve any outstanding issues. Ultimately, Paige approves the state plan, as he did today.

To date, 41 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have had peer reviews of their accountability plans.  Additionally, the senior staff of the Department of Education has finished meeting with education officials from the states to discuss the specifics of their plans and the unique challenges and issues in each state. 

Despite all the priorities competing for our tax dollars, President Bush's budget boosts federal education funding to $53.1 billion--an $11 billion increase since the president took office.  Kansas alone will receive more than $438 million, including $173 million to implement NCLB.  If the president's budget is approved, federal education funding for Kansas will have gone up nearly $89 million since President Bush took office.

Kansas's plan will be posted online in the coming days at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/CFP/csas/index.html.

For more information about the No Child Left Behind Act, go to www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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