Education's Crossroads

Tomorrow, the US House of Representatives will vote on House Resolution 5 (H.R. 5), known as the *Student Success Act. This resolution would reauthorize the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program.  Now is the time for Congress to restore federalism in education, empower parents and students instead of bureaucrats and unions, and remove archaic obstacles that have prevented true opportunity for all.  We are against renewal of NCLB as proposed in H.R. 5 for the following reasons.

 

H.R. 5 does not enable states to completely opt out of the programs that fall under No Child Left Behind. The bill does not include language that would allow states to opt out of all the programs that fall under NCLB, along with the law’s mandates, and utilize those dollars for any lawful education purpose under state law

 

H.R. 5 does not eliminate programs or reduce spending.  *The bill consolidates more than 65 programs into a Local Academic Flexible Grant, which requires states to submit detailed documentation, follow prescriptive rules, and comply with onerous reporting requirements.  This is not a block grant.  Furthermore, H.R. 5 does not appreciably reduce spending in relation what was actually spent.

 

H.R. 5 does not eliminate all the burdensome federal mandates.*  H.R. 5 maintains the current NCLB mandates for states to establish standards in reading and math and to test kids annually between grades 3-8 and once in high school.

 

H.R. 5 does not provide states the option of full Title 1 portability.  H.R. 5 provides increased portability, but only to public schools and public charter schools. Adequate portability would extend to private schools of choice, if a state chose.

 

If you share our concerns about H.R. 5, please call your US Congressman today and ask him/her to vote NO on H.R. 5.*

You can find your Congressman’s phone number at:

http://www.house.gov/representatives/.

 

Source: citizensbwise@gmail.com