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Thursday, April 21, 2005
Leaving This Law Behind
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As a blog poster points out, the National Education Association, a teacher union, and several school districts have filed suit against Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, saying they can’t be forced to comply with aspects of No Child Left Behind that the feds aren’t paying for.
An AP story notes that in a separate action the Utah Legislature gave state education standards priority over NCLB. And Connecticut is reportedly planning its own suit.
Georgia has generally supported No Child Left Behind, especially its ideals. But this law does cost money. Testing kids every year instead of in just a few grades costs money. Sending a school bus to take a child to a school in another neighborhood because the child’s school didn’t meet standards costs money. Data collection, data storage, putting together lists, helping districts understand what they’re supposed to do, training teachers, adopting new programs to get schools up to par, it all costs money.
The feds say they have earmarked more money for education, but many states and districts say it isn’t enough.
Is the “unfunded mandate” arguement getting tired - I believe Rod Paige called it whining - or should states and districts have the right to opt out of aspects of a complicated law they don’t think they can afford to implement?
