ASCD's Initial Thoughts on Harkin-Enzi Bill
The storm of criticism aimed at the recently introduced (and passed out of committee) Harkin-Enzi Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) bill highlights why reauthorization is four years overdue. Everyone agrees that the No Child Left Behind Act needs to be fixed, but there is very little agreement on the specific remedies that should be made.
Criticism of the bill is not only coming from all quarters, it is also inconsistent; education groups like those representing school boards and district superintendents have complained about the speed with which the bill was approved by the committee. Yet these are the very same groups that urged Congress to reauthorize the law as soon as possible.
Even though the bill would continue requirements to publicly report student achievement gaps and mandate interventions for the worst performing schools in closing achievement gaps in each state, civil rights groups are concerned that the adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals for these subgroups have been eliminated. These are probably the only