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At Crowley ISD school board president Sheri Whiting’s request, the board signed a resolution that urges Congress to tweak the No Child Left Behind Act.
The resolution, promoted by the National School Boards Association, said school districts have had four years of operational experience in implementing No Child Left Behind, and many districts have identified improvements that could be made to eliminate barriers to full implementation of it.
The NSBA developed draft legislation based on input from boards across the nation that would address concerns about the program.
In January 2007, Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, re-introduced additional legislation similar to what NSBA drafted to improve the program. Young’s House Resolution 648 seeks to strengthen accountability for improving the academic performance of children enrolled in the nation’s public schools, according to the NSBA. Building on the major reforms of NCLB, HR 648 offers improvements that address consequences of the federal legislation while holding states and school districts accountable.
HR 648 contains more than 40 provisions that focus on five areas for improving No Child Left Behind: assessments, measuring adequate yearly progress, sanctions and state flexibility by the U.S. Department of Education and non-public schools.
Crowley joined other Texas school districts in urging Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, both of Texas, and U.S. Reps. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, and Chet Edwards, D-Waco, to fully support HR 648 by co-sponsoring it.
In May, the bill was referred to a House subcommittee, and then it was referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.
As a legal matter, Congress must act to reauthorize or at least temporarily extend No Child Left Behind by Sept. 30. Federal spending authority would expire if Congress fails to meet this deadline.
HR 648 is one of 17 proposals before Congress relating to No Child Left Behind.
President George Bush signed No Child Left Behind in 2002, hoping to raise student achievement, close gaps among students and ensures that each child has a highly qualified teacher.
The act applied to all school districts in states that accept federal Title I money, which CISD does.
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