By Melissa Grothus
March 5, 2007

On February 13, 2007, the Aspen Institute’s Commission on No Child Left Behind released a report that will guide Congress as it begins reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The bipartisan commission, co-chaired by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who served 14 years as the Republican governor of Wisconsin, and former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, commenced to assess the successes and failures of the NCLB legislation.

According to the report, titled “NCLB and Beyond”, the rejuvenated law should establish national standards for student achievement, broaden the definition of highly qualified teachers, and authorize $400 million over four years to help states develop data systems to track student achievement and teacher qualifications. In all, the Commission’s final analysis called for 75 recommendations. The recommendations are intended as a blueprint for Congress and the president to consider as they begin to revise the education legislation set to expire this year.

“We can and should reauthorize No Child Left Behind this year. The commission stands ready to help and assist in any way the Congress desires,” Barnes said.

The bipartisan panel and its leadership give the report credibility. All four major congressional players attended the report‘s release, including Senator Edward M. Kennedy(MA) Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Representative George Miller (CA) Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee; and their respective ranking members, Senator Michael B. Enzi (WY), and Representative Buck McKeon (CA).

According to Kennedy, “Many of their recommendations are going to see life.”

In addition, the Administration has been receptive to the recommendations of the panel. In a press statement, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said that report, in addressing needed adjustments, reflects “the broad, bipartisan commitment to improving our nation’s schools that was behind the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.”

Despite receiving bipartisan support, several of the recommendations were met with skepticism. Joel Packer, director of education policy and practice with the National Education Association (NEA), said they are opposed to creating more mandates, especially for individual teachers.

Under the commission’s recommendation, teachers who do not improve over a three year period, even after receiving professional development training, may be forced to leave Title I schools. Title I schools have high concentrations of poor students and receive federal money in an effort to raise achievement levels. According to Packer, this mandate would further encourage teachers to “teach to a test,” a common argument against such provisions.

Barnes counters, if a teacher continues to struggle after three years, “they should not continue to teach the most disadvantaged students who need the most effective teachers.”

Mayors have become increasingly involved in education in recent years as quality schools are crucial in promoting the economic development, vitality, and image of their cities. Mayoral involvement in education is highlighted as a key policy priority for Mayors in the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 10-Point Plan. According to the plan “it is critical that mayors be involved in every aspect of No Child Left Behind reauthorization, including discussions on full funding, teacher quality, performance standards, testing and evaluation, and methods of assessment and accountability.”