"No Child Left Behind" losing steam

Support for President Bush's signature education reform initiative is deteriorating on both sides of the aisle.

No Child Left Behind is up for reauthorization this year, but GOP conservatives have sponsored bills that would allow states to opt out of the law's testing requirements.

"We must move education decision-making out of Washington closer to where it belongs - with parents and teachers," said Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas).

Democrats want more funding for the bill's mandates, as well as changes in the method for measuring "adequate yearly progress." Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) says the president's fiscal year 2008 budget under funds No Child Left Behind by almost $15 billion.

Republicans also want to provide scholarships for students in chronically low-performing schools to attend private schools. But Democrats oppose the use of federal funds for private-school vouchers.

That conflict could divide the bipartisan NCLB coalition, and potentially dash the prospects for reauthorization this year.

From: The NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF STATE SCIENCE ANDMATHEMATICS COALITIONS News Brief #3926 Category: Education Policy

SOURCE: Christian Science Monitor, 21 March 2007