Education Bill: Right Goals, Wrong Means

The education bill approved by both houses of Congress in December (2001) is a "tremendous disappointment," said NEA President Bob Chase.

"While the bill sets out noble goals to raise student achievement and increase accountability, it fails to deliver the support required to help children achieve higher standards. We will not oppose the bill, but we cannot in good conscience support it. We can only hope that House and Senate appropriators can relieve some of the burden states face."

NEA joined parents, school boards, and school administrators in giving the bill an "incomplete." "Despite broad and deep bipartisan support to lift the unfunded mandate of special education, education bill conferees rejected the will of the majority in Congress to fully fund special education," said Chase. "This action is simply irresponsible and misses the opportunity to truly leave no child behind."

Despite its failure to deliver on the promise of special education funding, the education bill imposes significant new demands on students and schools at a time when states are in deficit. According to the National Governors' Association, states now face a $35 billion shortfall in the wake of a national recession. "Considering this bleak fiscal climate, these unfunded and underfunded mandates are irresponsible," said Chase. "The broad policy goals are laudable, but the lack of support to states suffering an economic decline is lamentable."

For 26 years the federal government promised to pay 40 percent of the cost of special education, but has never funded more than 15 percent, resulting in billions of lost dollars to local school districts. In response to budget cuts, schools across the nation are increasing class sizes, delaying purchases of classroom technology, and scaling back after-school classes. Chase said the leadership of Sens. Chuck Hagel (NE), Tom Harkin (IA), and Jim Jeffords (VT) in working to lift the unfunded mandate of special education has been exemplary. "On behalf of the nation's educators, we thank them for their hard work. They have amassed impressive bipartisan support that should yield results in the authorization of special education next year," said Chase.

Chase said the testing and accountability measures in the final package have been improved dramatically. Thanks to the hard work of Senator Paul Wellstone (MN) and others, the bill demonstrates more of a commitment to fixing problems instead of punishing and abandoning the schools that need the most help. As a result, states are directed to use high quality tests and to provide parents and policymakers information that provides a more complete picture of student learning - not just one test score.