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So just where do the presidential candidates stand?
The year 2007 has come and gone and with it the opportunity to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) on time. Policymakers could not reach a consensus on the best approach to modify the existing law so a temporary extension of the law was passed with no changes. The year 2008 has turned into the year of change. Monitoring closely the mood of the national electorate, presidential contenders continue to position themselves as that candidate. Change means different things to voters–from the political choice of leadership from a different party to the redirection of resources away from the war to the psychological response to a younger vision and sign of hope. Many argue for staying the course in response to the continued war on terror. And in terms of NCLB, both the concept of staying the course and that of making significant changes to the law are equally and strongly advocated.
Already this year we have seen priority legislation moving through the Congress, including economic stimulus, mortgage crisis, college affordability and renewable energy legislation. Education leaders in the Congress maintain NCLB is a strong part of this year’s legislative agenda. However, when looking at continued war funding, an advancing economic recession, a shortened Congressional calendar, and the intensity of the presidential election year, there is serious doubt there will be time or the political will to advance the NCLB agenda.
Work continues on NCLB reauthorization draft
When Congress passed the temporary NCLB extension in 2007, the renewal was for only one year to keep the pressure on and give the perception that it was on the front burner for this year. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is working on a more detailed legislative draft based on the abbreviated working document that came out of the committee last year. The committee chairman, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), has recently indicated the strong desire to bring forward a bill to the floor of the Senate this year that maintains the original intent of the law. Former Democratic presidential contender and senior committee member, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), has returned to the Senate committee and will be joined by either Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton (after a nominee is determined) who will influence the process with conversations taken from the campaign trail–with educators, parents and students–that express grassroots opinions about what needs to be fixed in the law.
The House Education and Labor Committee chairman, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), spearheaded his committee’s detailed draft reauthorization bill to which thousands of comments were received that are being reviewed by the committee staff. Joining him in the release of the working draft was House Republican Ranking Member Buck McKeon (R-CA) who indicated the draft was based on input received at two dozen Congressional hearings. While the document was jointly released, there continue to be serious differences of opinion in what final legislation should look like. At a major speech at the National Press Club, Chairman Miller highlighted six features he considers essential to reauthorization:
- using growth models for greater fairness and flexibility in assessing students;
- performance pay for teachers;
- more rigorous standards incorporating critical thinking and innovation;
- continuing to hold schools accountable for students’ progress with distinctions among different schools and challenges;
- turning around low performing middle and high schools; and
- increases in education funding.
Inadequate funding of NCLB
On this last point, House education appropriators in late February of this year challenged the Bush Administration’s FY 2009 budget request. The criticisms leveled at Education Secretary Margaret Spellings by both Democrats and Republicans at a hearing were that the Administration was not funding NCLB at its authorized level, was cutting funds for education programs important to their Congressional districts, and was pushing programs that Congress has refused to fund in the past. The continued criticism that NCLB is an unfunded mandate is yet another reason why reauthorization of NCLB is likely to be postponed for the next Congress…and the next Administration.
The next President and NCLB
That takes us to the Presidential campaign and the question of how the next occupant of the White House will deal with NCLB. The results of the March 4 primaries in Texas and other states cinched the nomination for Sen. John McCain but did the opposite for the Democrats. The strong showing of Sen. Hillary Clinton resuscitated her campaign and set the course for an extended nominating process for the Democrats. Sen. Barack Obama maintains the lead in delegate numbers, but it is a mathematical question regarding how either candidate can reach the required number of delegates to claim victory. It could well drag on until summer, and, for now, three candidates remain.
Senators Clinton and Obama have similar positions regarding their support for education reform and the idea that high quality education for children is the most important component of meeting 21st Century workforce demands and the path to success for our children. Both currently serve on the U.S. Senate committee that has jurisdiction over education issues, including NCLB. While reauthorization of NCLB has not been a key issue in debates and campaign speeches, both candidates have expressed support for maintaining the overall intent of the law– students should meet high standards and schools should be held accountable for student performance.
Both have expressed that there are significant problems with the current law. Sen. Obama focuses changes to the law based in two significant areas: (1) improve assessments that track student progress to provide immediate feedback to teachers, indicate college readiness, and measure student progress in reaching standards; and (2) improve accountability to assess all children appropriately. Sen. Clinton has emphasized expanded and appropriate funding to reach the goals of NCLB and to fully fund programs for special needs students. While tending to talk about different reform areas of the law, both candidates are pretty much on the same page regarding major changes to the law, including merit pay, where there appears to be agreement that any compensation changes would have to be worked out with teachers. Some argue reauthorization of current law should be postponed until either of these candidates as a new president could put his or her mark on it next year.
According to Education Week [Feb. 27, 2008], Sen. Obama during the Wisconsin primary waded into controversial waters with a suggestion he could take a closer look at school vouchers if there were strong evidence it was in the best interest of students and improved student achievement. Later, Sen. Obama reinforced his position opposing private school choice. During the same period Sen. Clinton expressed her opposition to private school choice and questioned the constitutionality of vouchers.
Sen. John McCain does not talk about education often but expresses a deep appreciation for teaching because of his wife’s work as a special education teacher. While short on specifics about the law, he refers to NCLB as a “good beginning,” but also indicates the law “badly needs fixing” and cites language and special education considerations that should be addressed. He cautions against “throwing out the law” advocated by some and cites the need to reward good teachers and fire bad ones. In a YouTube video, he supports alternatives such as charter schools, parental choice and vouchers.
On the day after the Texas primary, Sen. McCain went to the White House to receive the official endorsement of President Bush as the Republican nominee for president. There was probably no talk about education issues though it is well known that President Bush hopes to have NCLB, his top domestic policy achievement, reauthorized before he leaves office. While he and Secretary Spellings opened 2008 with strong rhetoric about continuing the Bush education legacy, they now seem to be less optimistic that there will be any movement this year. Most people agree with that assessment and that NCLB will be dealt with by a new president.
Leo Coco is TCTA’s lobbyist in Washington, D.C. He is a senior policy advisor with the law firm of Nelson Mullins, with a background that includes extensive experience in the U.S. Department of Education.
Web posted: 04/01/08 from The Classroom Teacher, Spring 2008
