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Press Release
The National Governors Association (NGA), the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) sent joint reccomentations for reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to Congressional leadership.
Governors, chief state school officers and state board members wrote in their letter that they "believe it is critical to reauthorize NCLB as soon as possible to reaffirm our commitment to high standards and attention to student achievement."
The groups worked together to offer recommendations in 11 areas, including giving states and schools the flexibility to use "growth models" to gain credit for increasing student achievement; creating rewards and differentiating consequences; supporting meaningful, long-term school reform; and ensuring fair testing of special populations. Recommendations also ask that the reauthorization include a renewed state-federal partnership that will provide states the flexibility to ensure the law works effectively in each and every state...
Joint Statement on Reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Create Rewards and Differentiate Consequences – Currently, states are required to implement
a system of rewards and consequences for all public schools and districts, including a series of
required, escalating sanctions for Title I schools and districts. NCLB requires the same
classifications and interventions for Title I schools and districts regardless of whether they
missed adequate yearly progress (AYP) by a little or a lot, and regardless of the plans and
capacities in place or interim progress. The focus of NCLB should shift from consequences to
supporting proactive state and local solutions, providing incentives, and celebrating success in
the education system.
Recommendation
• Provide and dedicate sustained resources, technical assistance, and other supports for
states to develop the capacity to assist schools.
• Broaden the array of options to allow states and local school districts to differentiate and
determine consequences and target interventions to student populations who do not meet
AYP.
• Allow states to raise achievement by first offering supplemental services prior to public
school choice where applicable.
• Work with governors and chief state school officers to develop a bonus system for states
and schools that hold high standards and raise student performance in a significant
manner.