No Child Left Behind Rewrite Hearing Starts With Senators Divided Over Education Policy
As the Senate's education committee began hearings on a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind Act Tuesday, partisan divides over the role of the federal government in America's schools quickly revealed themselves as the sticking point.
"There is, in some ways, a philosophical difference," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "Should we just say to states, go it on your own? Whatever you want to do, just go it on your own? Or are we going to set up a partnership with the states."
"This is what I think we're debating: Who's in control for ensuring every child is prepared for college or career?" said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).
Last week, Harkin released his bill to reauthorize No Child Left Behind. The bill would keep the NCLB's testing regime, while adding some flexibility. It would also back off the law's much-derided "Adequate Yearly Progress" reports, but still include performance targets for schools.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), a former Secretary of Education who now serves as the committee's ranking member, followed up with a competing bill. Alexander's bill would shift more power to states, and relies on data
"There is, in some ways, a philosophical difference," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "Should we just say to states, go it on your own? Whatever you want to do, just go it on your own? Or are we going to set up a partnership with the states."
"This is what I think we're debating: Who's in control for ensuring every child is prepared for college or career?" said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).
Last week, Harkin released his bill to reauthorize No Child Left Behind. The bill would keep the NCLB's testing regime, while adding some flexibility. It would also back off the law's much-derided "Adequate Yearly Progress" reports, but still include performance targets for schools.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), a former Secretary of Education who now serves as the committee's ranking member, followed up with a competing bill. Alexander's bill would shift more power to states, and relies on data