No Child Left Behind Act to Evolve

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has begun working to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) —also known as No Child Left Behind—and the U.S. Chamber is weighing in with calls for improved accountability and transparency.

“No Child Left Behind was an important first step in identifying the achievement gaps among different student groups and in advancing education reforms to help schools improve academic achievement,” says Arthur Rothkopf, Chamber senior vice president and counselor to the Chamber president. “Now we have an opportunity to take the next steps toward our goal of ensuring that all students graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary education or the workforce.”

The Chamber, in partnership with the Business Roundtable, leads the Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA). BCSA recommends that reauthorization legislation accomplish the following:

• Establish internationally benchmarked standards and assessments to reflect readiness for college, the workplace, and international competition. Annual student assessments in science should be added to existing math and reading assessments, and progress measurements should reflect year-to-year growth in academic achievement tied to specific goals.
• Hold all schools accountable while putting a laser-like focus on transforming the 2,000 high schools with dropout rates greater than 40%.
• Measure and reward teacher and administrator success and implement policies and practices to remove ineffective educators fairly and efficiently.
• Foster a client-centered approach for districts and schools that includes honest and easy-to-understand report cards, timely information for parents and students about tutoring and school choice, and greater involvement by parents, community, and businesses.
• Develop fully functional statewide data systems that can be used to improve teacher effectiveness and support student instruction.
• Encourage innovation, including after-school and summer school programs for at-risk students, online learning tools, charter schools, and opportunities for students to enroll in advanced course work, early-college high schools, or dual enrollment programs.
• Establish a dedicated strategy and funding stream to improve STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.

Visit www.biz4achievement.org to learn more or to join the coalition.