NCLB reauthorization stalls … for now

Reports out of Washington, D.C., indicate that action reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act is not likely to occur this year.

A draft circulated by Rep. George Miller of California generated discussion earlier this year, but consensus on major issues remains elusive. In late October, Miller, who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, announced that he would set aside reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and turn the committee’s attention to higher education.

“This doesn’t come as a big surprise to anyone,” said South Dakota Education Secretary Rick Melmer. “This is a massive law, with many pieces and players. Gaining consensus is going to be a challenge.”

Melmer noted that the Council of Chief State School Officers, a national organization of which he is president, will continue to advocate for eight specific policy changes to the law. Those changes include concepts such as use of growth models to determine adequate yearly progress, properly including students with disabilities, and differentiated consequences for schools that miss AYP targets in numerous categories versus those that miss in just a few categories.

For a complete look at CCSSO’s recommendations for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, click here.