A press release from the Minnesota Department of Education: 

The Minnesota Department of Education, along with a group of legislators and education organizations, announced last week that several recommendations for improving the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which is scheduled to be reauthorized by Congress this year or next. 

“The reauthorization of No Child Left Behind must focus on improving the current law,” Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren said.  “The recommendations in this report provide a roadmap for states and local school districts to increase student achievement and close the achievement gap.”

This year, the Department of Education formed the NCLB working group to assemble recommendations for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. In a report released today, the NCLB working group recommends an increased focus on systemic school reform, data systems and providing the resources or changes to the law needed for implementation. 

“The goals of NCLB are laudable and important, but there is room for improvement,” Governor Tim Pawlenty said.  “Minnesota is leading the charge to improve and reform NCLB to better prepare our students for future success.”

“NCLB needs to be amended to allow for stronger state and local implementation and increased student achievement for all students,” State Senate Education Committee Chairman Chuck Wiger said.  “We can only achieve that goal when a renewed sense of trust is established between federal and state governments.”

The report outlines changes needed for states, local districts and schools to improve student achievement, which will allow the United States and Minnesota to compete in a global economy.  The working group made the following 11 specific recommendations:

- Changes should focus on building state and local capacity and extending the timeline for 100 percent proficiency.

- Changes to NCLB should allow greater enforcement by the United States Department of Education to ensure that states have rigorous academic standards. 

- Changes should allow greater flexibility for school choice and more accountability for supplemental services.

- Changes to NCLB should allow states to create a system that allows for rigorous and stable school improvement plans and also allows for differentiated consequences for schools not making adequate yearly progress.

- MDE should continue building a strong statewide assessment system that includes a student growth model component. At the same time, Congress should allow flexibility in building a strong student growth model that is rigorous and aligned to state academic standards and graduation requirements.

- MDE should enhance its current State School Report Card by replacing the formula for the STAR rating system with a student growth model and exploring the feasibility of including a learning environment index.

- Changes should include appropriate statewide assessments for students with disabilities and English Language Learners.

- Changes to NCLB should provide greater flexibility for the highly qualified teacher provisions and should enhance teacher quality.

- Changes to NCLB should continue to focus on early literacy through Reading First, and provide funding for targeted services for pre-school literacy readiness. There should also be a greater emphasis on math and science that will increase student achievement in these areas.  Providing better training for all teachers will guarantee the delivery of effective math and science instruction.

- Changes to NCLB should include a greater focus and emphasis on our nation’s middle and high schools, but not at the expense of elementary schools. 

- Changes should include strengthening resources at the state and local levels that will allow for rigorous implementation, capacity building and increased student achievement.

“This report highlights Minnesota’s continued commitment to improving student achievement and closing the achievement gap,” Minnesota Association of School Administrators Executive Director Charlie Kyte said.  “We encourage Minnesota’s congressional delegation to review these recommendations and advocate for their inclusion into NCLB.”

ESEA was first passed and signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and it has been reauthorized several times.  The last reauthorization was in January 2002, when it was first called No Child Left Behind.  NCLB has spurred a renewed focus on reading and math and includes strong accountability measures for states, school districts and schools.

To read the report, go to www.education.state.mn.us.