WEAC's ESEA Cadre Will Help Members Understand the New Law
(WEAC members can find more information about ESEA on the OnWEAC
Members Only page)
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| WEAC's ESEA cadre member Paul Hambleton |
WEAC has created a cadre to help members understand the recently reauthorized
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly referred to as
the "No Child Left Behind" act. The cadre presented information
about the legislation on October 5, 2002, during the WEAC Fall Conference,
held in Milwaukee.
Cadre members Paul Hambleton, Ellen Kupfer, Peg Walker, Kelli Rose
and Jo Ellen Burke will present at regional meetings November 12-20,
2002, to help members understand how the new law will affect their professions.
Eau Claire teacher Jo Ellen Burke told Fall Conference participants
about the political climate that produced the law. She explained that
when the Republican Party controlled the Senate in 2001, initial versions
of the bill contained language to expand voucher programs and eliminate
the collective bargaining rights of teachers and education support professionals.
However, when Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont became an Independent, control
of the Senate changed hands to the Democrats. This made Sen. Edward
Kennedy of Massachusetts the chair of the Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions Standing Committee. He immediately began work to inoculate
some of the more damaging items contained in the bill.
The law took effect on January 8, 2002. Because of its length, advocates
of the education community do not yet fully understand the full extent
of its impact.
One of the more significant requirements in the law is more standardized
testing. In Wisconsin, students are tested in reading at grades 3, 4,
8 and 10. In math, students are tested at grades 4, 8 and 10. Under
ESEA, students will be tested in both subjects annually in grades 3-8,
and once again in either grade 10, 11 or 12.
Burke pointed out that the increase in standardized testing will have
a huge financial impact on the state. "It costs an estimated $7
million to administer one statewide test," she said. "And
that does not include the cost associated with creating, writing or
buying the actual test."
Congress authorized $29.4 billion when the bill was passed, but President
Bush only appropriated $22.2 billion for the 2002-03 school year. Wisconsin
will receive $283 million in federal funds, which is 4.8% of the K-12
budget.
ESEA mandates that 95% of Wisconsin's public school students be tested.
Before the law, students with disabilities and foreign-language speakers
could get exemptions. Now, teachers may request waivers for no more
than 5% of students.
Limited English speakers will be given a three-year grace period, and
then most students must take the test in English. Special education
students must be tested, and if they test in the "proficient"
range, they may no longer qualify for special accommodations. "It's
a double-edged sword," Burke said. "On one hand, they want
everyone to be proficient, but the law penalizes students who are."
Before ESEA became law, the Department of Public Instruction decided
that students must score at the 79th percentile to be labeled "proficient"
in science, reading, math and writing testing. Now, ESEA requires that
every student be "proficient" in all subjects by the 2013-14
school year. The DPI has the authority to set the proficiency levels.
"You are either failing or proficient under this law. There's
no 'in-between,'" cadre member Ellen Kupfer said. "It's like
going to a hospital and saying that everyone must come out healthy no
matter how sick they are or what kind of facilities the hospital has."
ESEA also calls for significant changes in the professional quality
of teachers and paraprofessionals. All teachers must be "highly
qualified," meaning that they must be certified in the subject
they teach, by 2005-06. Title I paraprofessionals hired before January
8, 2002, must become "highly qualified" by having two years
of college, at least an associate's degree, or by passing a rigorous
assessment within four years.
WEAC President Stan Johnson told members that the law does bring some
positive changes that will improve public education. "With the
help of the National Education Association, we will do our best to focus
on the more destructive parts of this law," he said. "For
now, the best thing we can do is support pro-public education candidates
in the November election."
More information:
Posted October 11, 2002