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BUSINESS COALITION FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND UPDATE, MARCH 18, 2008
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With the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) up for reauthorization, parents, educators, experts and concerned citizens are speaking up in support of No Child Left Behind. This week's quote, second in the series of voices from the field, highlights how NCLB is impacting education in America's public schools. Janice Hawkins “NCLB is making an impact on the way we teach the teachers in schools of education. Now, the focus is on producing highly qualified teachers, not just minimally certified teachers. It is also encouraging states to develop programs that may not have been considered otherwise. The end result is that everyone is working toward the same goal -- discovering which approaches or services work best for the individual child. Let me assure you, NCLB is working.” |
U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings continues to tour the states, highlighting the education achievements of each. You can track her travels by clicking here.
- New York: Students making progress toward NCLB goals
Secretary Spellings visited Van Duyn Elementary School, where she highlighted progress toward No Child Left Behind goals in New York and across the nation. Following classroom visits and an assembly with students, Secretary Spellings and Rep. Walsh (NY-25) also participated in an education policy roundtable discussion with state and local education leaders, college presidents, parents and business leaders. Read more >> - Colorado: Continuing to work towards NCLB goals
Deputy Secretary of Education Raymond Simon today met with the Colorado Association of School Boards and participated in an education policy roundtable discussion with superintendents and school board members. He discussed progress toward No Child Left Behind goals in Colorado and across the country. Read more >> - Arkansas: Building on momentum to continue to improve education
U. S. Deputy Secretary of Education Ray Simon visited in Arkansas to tout NCLB’s success in improving education in Arkansas. Read more in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette >> - North Dakota: Progress toward NCLB goals
North Dakota schools are doing a good job implementing No Child Left Behind requirements despite some unique challenges, according to Deputy Secretary of Education Ray Simon. Read more in the Bismarck Tribune >> - New Mexico: Charting the successes of education reform
Deputy Secretary of Education Ray Simon, appearing with state education leaders here today at an education policy roundtable, cited progress and challenges facing New Mexico schools in meeting No Child Left Behind goals. Read more >>
Given Choice, Virginia Board Unlikely to Pull Out of NCLB
The Virginia General Assembly has passed a bill that would give the state's board of education the option of leaving NCLB behind. Virginia's been down this road before. In 2004, it passed a Republican-backed resolution saying it didn't have the money to comply with the law, prompting this statement from then-Secretary of Education Rod Paige. Virginia stuck with the law.
Read more in Education Week >>
How Many Billionaires Does It Take to Fix a School System?
The New York Times published a transcript of a discussion among five experts and leaders in education reform who gathered to examine how philanthropy can effect lasting change on America’s education.
Read more in the New York Times >>
A plan that will help struggling schools
David Long, California Secretary of Education, writes about California’s plan to intervene in struggling schools: “While addressing the state's legal obligation to meet federal law is part of the reason for our efforts, we also have a moral obligation as leaders in this state to take action now on behalf of the children in these schools.”
Read more in the Sacramento Bee >>
Report Urges Changes in Teaching Math
American students’ math achievement is “at a mediocre level” compared with that of their peers worldwide, according to a new report by a federal panel, which recommended that schools focus on key skills that prepare students to learn algebra. The report, adopted unanimously by the National Mathematics Advisory Panel on Thursday and presented to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, offers specific goals for students in different grades to streamline math teaching.
Read more in the New York Times >>
Shawnee High School junior James Fugate says he never planned on taking the ACT college-entrance exam. He figured he'd simply get a full-time job after graduation. But today, James will join nearly 30,000 juniors across Kentucky who are taking the exam under a new state law that requires it — in an effort to get more public school kids to think about college. Lawmakers have said the goal, in addition to better preparing students for college, is to identify those who need help or should be encouraged to take more challenging courses.
Read more in the Courier-Journal >>