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PRESS RELEASE September 8, 2003 EFF publishes new report on No Child Left Behind OLYMPIA—A new report published today by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation explains the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and explores ways in which educators, parents and concerned citizens in Washington can use it to improve public schools. "While most of the Act's requirements are stringent and hailed by people inside and outside the education establishment as long overdue, other requirements are not even feasible," said Lynn Harsh, EFF's senior education analyst. The report attempts to identify areas where application of the new requirements may break down, and looks for approaches that will help local schools and parents use the statutory structure to improve education for students. EFF does not endorse every aspect of the NCLB Act, or even the concept of federal intervention in local schools. But Harsh says the Act also has strengths. "Is the NCLB Act a step toward improving schools?" asks Harsh. "We don't know, but the possibility exists, and it's an opportunity that must not be missed. Like it or hate it, the NCLB draws a line in the sand and, in essence, says to the controlling education authorities: ‘You will stop listing the reasons you can't succeed with students and start listing the reasons you can.'" The full report is available on the Foundation's website at the following link: http://www.effwa.org/pdfs/NCLB.pdf There is also a link to a geographical map showing the location of each of the fifty schools that failed to meet standards for two or more years: http://www.effwa.org/pdfs/NCLB_school_sanctions_2002-03.pdf In succeeding reports, EFF will analyze what thirteen schools did to get off the "failing" and "On-Alert" lists this year. Successful strategies are likely applicable to most of the schools that fall short of standards. Contact: Lynn Harsh | Senior Education Analyst | 360.956.3482
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
