Today is the fifth anniversary of President Bush?s landmark ?No Child Left Behind,? Elementary and Secondary Education Act. USA Today?s front-page story discusses the good, bad and ugly pieces of the law.
The Heritage Foundation also hosted an event on this 5th anniversary, with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC). These Senators discussed possibilities of giving states more flexibility, yet holding them accountable for achievement. They discussed the “charter state” option:
“A charter state option would work in much the same way as a charter school contract. States choosing a charter status with the federal government would operate with greater freedom in exchange for results. Any state could choose the charter alternative by the decision of its legislative and executive branches. The state would specify which of its federal K-12 education programs would be part of the contract. The charter state would then be exempt from the program mandates, processes, and paperwork associated with the programs included in its contract, and the federal government would provide the money for these programs to the state in a single funding stream.”
However, my experience tells me the ?system? does not want flexibility, because it likes to use the “top-down” mandates as cover and protection for NOT performing. However, over the past five years it seems NO one is pleased with the law.
Get ready, the Democrats controlling congress will go after “full funding” of NCLB instead of flexibility. Which would give millions more to the education establishment. The federal government?s contribution to K-12 education spending has risen 25 percent since the 2002 passing of NCLB. Also, watch congress for a bill establishing “National Standards” to be introduced soon! More federal mandates, more money, less flexibility, is a move in the wrong direction!
