CTA | Politics and Legislation

ESEA/NCLB

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Tell Congress to Keep Their Promise and Fund Our Schools
Sign the petition. Urge your representatives to fully fund "No Child Left Behind" rather than punish cash-strapped school districts that don't meet all of the regulations. More __________________________

NEA Files Appeal of Lawsuit Against No Child Left Behind Act -- May 22, 2006

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"NCLB is not about teacher quality, student achievement" -- CTA Board member testifies at Commission Hearing

NCLB Teacher Requirements Resource Guide

Frequently Asked Questions about the ESEA Highly Qualified Teacher

click to see a larger version of the cartoon.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), renamed the "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) Act of 2001, will be reauthorized this year and will come up for renewal in September 2007. That means the U.S. Congress will begin considering changes to the law, possibly starting with hearings later this year. Final action may not happen until 2008 or even later, but CTA, NEA, and teachers need to begin to mobilize now for a major role in passing legislation that better meets the needs of students and teachers.

NCLB established praise-worthy goals—high standards and accountability for the learning of all children, regardless of their background or ability. It also requires that all teachers in core subjects to be "highly qualified" by the end of the current school year.

As well as being seriously flawed, the NCLB Act has been consistently underfunded. Funding for this Act in California fell more than $2.2 billion short of originally promised levels this year alone, and educators say the results are seen in the ability of schools to meet federal mandates for student achievement. Of California's 9,188 public schools, 4055 (44%) failed to make annual yearly progress (AYP) under NCLE and 1.772 schools (19%) failed to meet federal AYP for the second consecutive year, and are subject to federally mandated sanctions.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has announced that no state will meet a requirement that calls for 100 percent of teachers in core subjects to be "highly qualified" by this year's end. California's standards for becoming certificated teachers are among the highest in the nation. In fact, the U.S. DOE has commended the state for implementing teacher quality regulations, but funds to support retention of highly qualified teachers have been cut by more than $33 million.

The following links will provide basic information on ESEA. Also check the National Education Association website for additional information.

News

News from NEA

Research

High-Stakes Testing and Student Achievement: Problems for the 'No Child Left Behind Act,' Conducted by Sharon L. Nichols, Gene V. Glass, and David C. Berliner of the Education Policy Studies Laboratory at the Arizona State University, College of Education. The full report (PDF, 118 pages) is available at the Education Policy Students Laboratory Website. September 2005
Studies Find Growing Discontent with NCLB
Two recent research reports find the public and state legislatures across the country are perceiving NCLB as more harmful than helpful to public education. The "NCLB Left Behind: Understanding the Growing Grassroots Rebellion Against a Controversial Law," provides a detailed national overview of a "growing grassroots rebellion." NCLBgrassroots.org and the Civil Society Institute. August 2005
Study Predicts High Failure Rate under NCLB
A study released by a coalition of education groups in Massachusetts—including the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)—projects that between 74 and 90 percent of Massachusetts public schools will fail the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements of NCLB by 2014. Massachusetts schools rank at or near the top on the National Assessment of Educational Progress Tests, SATs, college attendance rates, and other measures of achievement. July 2005
Reports: NCLB Adversely Impacts Disadvantaged Students, Schools
Closing the achievement gap among disadvantaged and minority students is supposed to be the centerpiece of the 'No Child Left Behind' education law. Ironically, four reports released by the Harvard Civil Rights Project reveal that in the real world, the law's sanctions are falling especially hard on disadvantaged and minority students and schools. February 2005

Highly Qualified Teacher

Testimony to Aspen Institute's Commission on No Child Left Behind
Statement of California Teachers Association - Testimony by Pixie Hayward-Schickele, April 11, 2006
The Path to Being a 'Highly Qualified' Teacher—According to the 'No Child Left Behind' Law - a report and chart by the National Education Association
NCLB Teacher Requirements Resource Guide
Frequently Asked Questions about the ESEA Highly Qualified Teacher

California Educator

NCLB is a failed attempt at a quick fix, says CTA
By Frank Wells, May, 2006
Changing configuration offers no magic answer
By Sherry Posnick Goodwin, March, 2006
Does measuring up mean leaving their world behind?
By Sherry Posnick Goodwin, December 2005

NCLB Resources

ESEA Alert

June 14, 2006 - ESEA Reauthorization Debate Heats Up

ESEA Alert Archives

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