Delegates call for changes to 'No Child Left Behind' law

Delegates to the 2006 National Education Association Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly returned home fired up to take on obstacles that are denying the basic right of every child to a quality public education.

"They're tired of excuses for lawmakers not backing up the so-called No Child Left Behind Act with adequate resources to get the job done," said Reg Weaver, NEA president.  "And they know that children and students are the ones hurting from those excuses. Now they'll help turn their first-hand expertise with these problems into sound education policy." 

During the weeklong event, delegates approved a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy that puts educators at the forefront of improving public education, and calls for much-needed changes to NCLB as it nears expiration in 2007.

“This is a critical time in the history of public education,” Weaver said. “We have lived with the negative consequences of a fundamentally flawed law for almost five years and now our members are saying it’s time for a change. And no one is more qualified to bring real improvement to public education than the 2.8 million members of NEA.”

The comprehensive strategy approved by delegates encourages members to lobby Congress to support meaningful reform of NCLB, which is the latest version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  The NEA strategy calls for an increase in education funding and a decrease in the number of children per classroom in America’s schools. The plan also calls for using multiple measures to assess student achievement.

“Today’s vote is a significant first step toward winning support from lawmakers so that America’s children can compete in our global society with 21st century skills and toward reviving enthusiasm for teaching and learning in public school classrooms,” Weaver said.

The NEA framework for ESEA reauthorization is driven by the criteria for great public schools developed over a year-long project by a special committee. The committee met with thousands of education professionals, independent policy experts, and education partners and organizations from across the country.

The criteria for great public schools the committee developed include:

• Quality programs and services that meet the full range of all children’s needs so that they come to school every day ready and able to learn.
• High expectations and standards with a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum for all students.
• Quality conditions for teaching and lifelong learning.
• A qualified, caring, diverse, and stable workforce.
• Shared responsibility for appropriate school accountability by stakeholders at all levels.
• Parental and community involvement and engagement.
• Adequate, equitable and sustainable funding.

“This is a call to action for everyone who cares about children and the future of America,” Weaver said. “We will let nothing stop us in our efforts to ensure that public school employees have the tools and resources they need to do the important job of preparing our children to live productive and successful lives.”

The vote of the delegates comes on the heels of a survey commissioned by NEA to assess member attitudes about NCLB. The survey found that NEA members have negative views of NCLB and want NEA to work to change the law. The survey showed that NEA members believe that NCLB has not improved public education because of inadequate funding, the punitive nature of the law, and the sole reliance on standardized testing to measure student achievement.  Other findings of the survey include:

• 69% of members surveyed disapprove of NCLB, with 49% strongly disapproving.
• As members have become more exposed to NCLB, their views have soured. Approval of NCLB has dropped from 40% in 2003 to 29% currently. At the same time, disapproval rose from 56% in 2003 to a current 69%.
• 57% of members want to see major changes in NCLB, 21% favor making minor changes, 17% want total repeal and only 4% want to keep the act as it is.

“If NCLB was a standardized test, our members would give it a failing grade,” Weaver said. “And using the same Adequate Yearly Progress model that the law mandates, NCLB would be subject to restructuring."

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