The federal Department of Education has announced plans to relax some provisions in the No Child Left Behind law. Federal officials say the new changes should address some key local concerns, but educators are not convinced.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has more.
See details from the US Department of Education.
In recent weeks, federal education officials have relaxed a number of provisions in No Child Left Behind.
No longer will students who speak very little English be required to take standardized tests their first year in the United States.
And now, the federal Department of Education is loosening regulations that require teachers to be certified in every subject they teach.
New Hampshire Education Commissioner Nick Donohue says the changes suggest Washington is listening to state and local educators.
2:03 I think the law is changing as we implement it. I think everyone expected we would learn as we go. And I think we need to give credit to the folks in Washington, the process is working. I think in this country, you pass law... discover what problems are...and we reach good places of public policy.
One new change allows the state to streamline the certification process for teachers who currently teach more than one subject.
It also is now easier for a science teacher to cover multiple topics in science.
And across the board it makes it easier for rural schools.
Commissioner Donohue says rural schools in particular need to use a single teacher to teach multiple subjects.
7:25...you've got a teacher originally certified in biology and teaching one class in chemistry. And the prospect was that person would choose not to teach that class in chemistry or wouldn't be allowed to teach that. Leaving that school high and dry.
Donohue says these changes will make it easier for schools to comply with the law.
But he says they won't have any effect on one of the more controversial aspects of the law, the public labeling of schools as in need of improvement.
This happens when schools fall short of performance targets on standardized tests.
After that happens over consecutive school years, the school is hit with sanctions.
Charles Ott, Superintendent of the Sommersworth School District, says the sanctions affect thousands of dollars in federal money targeted to help the poorest students.
TAPE:
If I have a school here that is a school in need of improvement, then this coming school year, I need to set aside 20% of the Title I money. That's money I will not have available to offer contracts to Title I teachers or to support the programs that we're currently running.
The Education Department's announcement comes after harsh criticism of No Child Left Behind from all sides of the political spectrum.
Republican lawmakers at the state level have complained the law either is too expensive, or too rigid.
Some see the NCLB changes as the Bush Administration trying shore up support in an election year.
But Charlie Arlinghaus, who runs the conservative Josiah Bartlett Center, says the changes represent an attempt to clarify an often misunderstood law.
3:47 I think this move is a response to people who are losing sight of the big picture, and it's an attempt to say to them, everything doesn't have to be done the same way...it's about a fundamental change in focus to make sure everybody is helped. And it is, if you will, a concession to them that there are hundreds of different ways to do that, and we will give you the flexibility to come up with the best way for your state.
During the election, Arlinghaus argues, President Bush's campaign can not get caught up in the details of the education law.
Instead, he must focus on the law's concept- that every child must learn.
If he does that, says Arlinghaus, then he predicts the President will be on strong footing.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo