9/28/04 -- A group of Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee introduced a bill Sept. 13 to revise the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
The No Child Left Behind Improvement Act is sponsored by Senators Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.), Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.), Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Patty Murray (Wash.), Jack Reed (R.I.), and Hillary Clinton (N.Y.).
"The bill makes no fundamental changes in the requirements of the law, including those for accountability or adequate yearly progress (AYP)," says NSBA Executive Director Anne L. Bryant. "Neither does this bill address any of the substantive issues that NSBA identified for legislative changes -- including the aspects of NCLB that result in unfair and inaccurate measurements and labeling of local schools and the serious funding shortfalls."
"Additionally, the timing of the introduction of this bill raises serious legislative procedural concerns, given the limited time remaining in this Congress and major legislation currently pending, including the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)," Bryant says.
The Democrats complain that the Education Department's two-year delay in issuing final regulations on counting test results for children with disabilities and English language learners in calculating AYP has resulted in states potentially mislabeling thousands of schools as "in need of improvement."
The bill addresses this problem by requiring the department to give schools the option of recalculating AYP scores from last year. The Democrats say this would provide "a more accurate picture of student achievement under the department's own rules."
The bill also would authorize $50 million to help states develop native language assessments for English language learners, better assessments for special needs children, and better assessment and data systems, including longitudinal tests to follow the progress of individual students from year to year.
Among other provisions:
• The bill would authorize $250 million to support school construction and renovation efforts to help districts with overcrowded schools carry out the school choice provisions in NCLB.
• It would allow certified teachers to provide supplemental services.
• The bill would ensure that every state develop and implement the standard criteria under NCLB for ensuring that veteran teachers are highly qualified. It would ensure that every state provide all newly hired and existing paraprofessionals the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and meet NCLB requirements.
• It would require the U.S. Education Department to collect and report information on dropout rates annually for every subgroup of students.
• The language on "scientifically based research" would be revised, because the sponsors complain that the administration's "overly narrow and rigid interpretation" of that phrase has led to some schools having to "modify programs toward a specific educational ideology."
The bill would require the department "to ensure that all technical assistance and research activities make use of educational strategies, programs, and practices that have been successful in improving education opportunities and achievement for all students."