The president of the NEA (National Education Association) spoke before the Aspen Institute Commission on the No Child Left Behind policy and urged lawmakers to make some reforms to this act.
Just what did Reg Weaver (the NEA president) ask the Aspen Institute to do in regards to the No Child Left Behind act? He requested three big changes be made to this act, those include: assessment and accountability, teacher quality, and funding. He stressed the importance of improving these areas which will hopefully allow the goals stated in this law be met.
Weaver requested that assessments needed to be more fair and accurate in their testing policies which include changes in the policy when it comes to assessing special education students and those students who don’t have English as their first language. Weaver stated that those specific students must also be provided with the appropriate accommodations when it came to assessing them. He also requested that these assessments should be used by educators for data that they can use for future instruction with students.
Reg Weaver also asked the commission to work on the rules when it comes to the term, “highly qualified teachers.” While he agrees that teachers must be highly trained and qualified to teach our future, the rules have caused much confusion and some upset amongst teachers. Those especially affected are special education teachers who according to The No Child Left Behind act must be highly qualified in all subjects that they teach. Special education teachers often teach all subjects, are often finding themselves jumping through hoops in hopes of becoming “highly qualified” according to what the No Child Left Behind act states is necessary.
What was the last request Reg Weaver wished for? He let the commission know that the No Child Left Behind Act is still very short on funds, that Congress has also failed to hold up their end of the bargain. When the No Child Left Behind act was instilled, Congress made a promise to provide resources needed and to provide funding to make the necessary school improvements. However, after the first year, funding has declined. Now a large number of schools who have been madated to make changes are doing so unfunded, losing resources and no money from Congress to help turn the school around from low-performing to meeting the criteria requested from the No Child Left Behind act.
These areas are critical, stated Weaver, in making public schools great schools for students to attend.
What are your thoughts on what Weaver is requesting?