How Would You Change No Child Left Behind?

The AFT is turning up the heat on No Child Left Behind! NCLB is soon to be on the front burner in Congress. What will the new version of the education law look like? What new requirements will Congress add for you and your school? And will there be enough funding to meet the needs of educating our children?

We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, previously known as No Child Left Behind, by answering:

What changes would you like to see in the new, reauthorized version of ESEA?

Right now in Congress, hearings are being held on the reauthorization of ESEA. From "adequate yearly progress" and testing, to teacher evaluations and identifying the lowest-performing schools, everything is on the table.

ESEA, which was first enacted in 1965, is up for reauthorization—a process through which Congress makes changes to the law and its requirements. ESEA was last reauthorized in 2001, when it was renamed the No Child Left Behind Act. The Obama administration has indicated that it supports reauthorizing ESEA this year. Key members of Congress have said that they want to pass a bipartisan bill when they reauthorize the law. Congress has begun hearings on ESEA reauthorization but has not offered any formal proposals, and no member of Congress has released a comprehensive ESEA reauthorization bill.

As the AFT works to ensure that the reauthorized law focuses on giving students and educators the supports they need to succeed, make your voice heard and tell us what you think.

On the new AFT.org site, we'll be posting all appropriate and relevant responses. Visit AFT Voices to read and rate the comments posted by your fellow members and the public on this important topic.

In unity,

The AFT

(AFT E-Activist Network 3/5/10)