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On Sunday January 8, 2012, Secretary Arne Duncan wrote an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Post calling for reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. See the article at (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2012/01/after-10-years-it%e2%80%99s-time-for-a-new-nclb/).

No Child Left Behind was supposed to be reauthorized in 2008, but Congress is still dragging its feet with regards to the legislation’s reauthorization. Some legislators have already begun working on reauthorization, while others have introduced related bills to ensure the continuation of certain programs. Late in September 2011, Senator John McCain introduced S. 1570 to provide for high-quality academic tutoring for low-income students in an effort to improve Supplemental Educational Services’ implementation during ESEA reauthorization. A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Congressman “Buck” McKeon, with Democratic co-sponsor Rob Andrews (D-NJ) along with subcommittee chair Duncan Hunter (R-CA). Even if no action is taken in this Congress, the bills provide an important template for the eventual ESEA reauthorization process.

At this point, it is politically unlikely that Congress will pass a sweeping education bill before the next Presidential election in November.  In the meantime, the USDOE has begun a waiver process to give states relief from the budgetary demands of No Child Left Behind. In exchange for receiving relief from NCLB, states are required to accept the Common Core Stand Standards, develop assessments aligned with College and Career Ready Standards, institute merit pay for teachers, streamline reporting requirements, and more. For additional information regarding the waiver process go to http://www.ed.gov/esea/flexibility.

11 states have applied for waivers by the November 14, 2011 deadline. Massachusetts and Tennessee have put together extremely solid applications that are likely to be accepted outright. Other states may have to make substantial revisions. 28 more states, DC, and Puerto Rico are slated to submit applications for the second round due February 21, 2012.

Most importantly, we want make sure that as Congress works to reauthorize NCLB, accountability measures are not loosened. We cannot afford for students’ needs to continue to go unmet. As such, all stakeholders involved in public education must work together to ensure that students at all schools are receiving high-quality instruction, and parents of students attending low-performing schools continue to have additional options.  In addition to holding Congress to a speedy timeline for reauthorization, stakeholders should work together to make sure that states include solid opportunities for students in low performing schools.

On Sunday January 8, 2012, Secretary Arne Duncan wrote an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Post calling for reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. See the article at (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2012/01/after-10-years-it%e2%80%99s-time-for-a-new-nclb/).

No Child Left Behind was supposed to be reauthorized in 2008, but Congress is still dragging its feet with regards to the legislation’s reauthorization. Some legislators have already begun working on reauthorization, while others have introduced related bills to ensure the continuation of certain programs. Late in September 2011, Senator John McCain introduced S. 1570 to provide for high-quality academic tutoring for low-income students in an effort to improve Supplemental Educational Services’ implementation during ESEA reauthorization. A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Congressman “Buck” McKeon, with Democratic co-sponsor Rob Andrews (D-NJ) along with subcommittee chair Duncan Hunter (R-CA). Even if no action is taken in this Congress, the bills provide an important template for the eventual ESEA reauthorization process.

At this point, it is politically unlikely that Congress will pass a sweeping education bill before the next Presidential election in November.  In the meantime, the USDOE has begun a waiver process to give states relief from the budgetary demands of No Child Left Behind. In exchange for receiving relief from NCLB, states are required to accept the Common Core Stand Standards, develop assessments aligned with College and Career Ready Standards, institute merit pay for teachers, streamline reporting requirements, and more. For additional information regarding the waiver process go to http://www.ed.gov/esea/flexibility.

11 states have applied for waivers by the November 14, 2011 deadline. Massachusetts and Tennessee have put together extremely solid applications that are likely to be accepted outright. Other states may have to make substantial revisions. 28 more states, DC, and Puerto Rico are slated to submit applications for the second round due February 21, 2012.

Most importantly, we want make sure that as Congress works to reauthorize NCLB, accountability measures are not loosened. We cannot afford for students’ needs to continue to go unmet. As such, all stakeholders involved in public education must work together to ensure that students at all schools are receiving high-quality instruction, and parents of students attending low-performing schools continue to have additional options.  In addition to holding Congress to a speedy timeline for reauthorization, stakeholders should work together to make sure that states include solid opportunities for students in low performing schools.