Congress Passing a New 'No Child Left Behind' Is a No Brainer
Education Secretary Arne Duncan kicked off the new year with an op-ed in the Washington Post today, calling for a bipartisan commitment to education reform. The Secretary wantsCongress to pass a new version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (“No Child Left Behind”), accurately noting that “few areas are more suited for bipartisan action than education reform.” Indeed, the administration’s legislative blueprint in this area runs right down the political center and would likely be supported broadly by voters.
And yet, conventional wisdom in education circles is that political forces will prevent Congressional action.
Here’s how the thinking goes: Republicans don’t want to hand the Obama administration a legislative win--particularly one that can be sold as a pragmatic, moderate accomplishment. Furthermore, on the right, the Tea Party will push a firmer states’ rights agenda that is