Proposal Would Allow More Flexibility Under ESEA
With the release of the new rules on testing
students with disabilities under NCLB, the Department of Education
has now issued nine sets of national rules changes in the past
two years. The NEA has produced a PowerPoint
presentation that summarizes all of them and has links to
the appropriate Department of Education documents. |
Heeding educators’ calls, the Department of
Education Wednesday (December 14, 2005) proposed regulations that give
schools more flexibility in measuring the achievement of students with
disabilities under the sweeping so-called "No Child Left Behind"
law.
NEA President Reg Weaver welcomed the change as “another small
step in the right direction” but cautioned that more substantive
changes are necessary to “fix and fund” the law, officially
known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
“Since its adoption, NEA has sought accommodations for children
who are poorly served by the law’s one-size-fits-all approach,”
Weaver said. “Little by little, the department has agreed with
teachers that not every child learns the same way or at the same speed.
Although it is not the ideal solution, this is a commendable revision.”
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said the proposal is designed
to meet the needs of students with disabilities who may not reach grade
levels within the same time frame as their peers. They can, however,
make strides with appropriate instruction. The proposal will implement
the policy for “modified
achievement standards for certain students with disabilities”
announced by Spellings in April.
While progress is being made to fix the law, Weaver said Congress is
failing to fund it. Lawmakers also are considering an education appropriations
bill that would strip $779 million in NCLB funding, cutting funding
below the level set three years ago. The bill before the House would
also reduce the federal share of special education funding from 18.6%
to 18%.
House leaders are pushing an additional 1% cut to all programs, including
public education, which would push the total reduction in NCLB funding
over $1 billion.
“It’s going to be hard to implement these changes if Congress
robs a billion dollars from public schools,” Weaver said. “Any
way you look at it, we are moving backwards in our education priorities.”
Department of Education announcement
(pdf file)
Resource page on ESEA
Posted December 15, 2005