U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) released two pieces of draft legislation law on January 6, 2012, which would reform No Child Left Behind. The No Child Left Behind Act has been overdue for reauthorization since 2007. According to a press release, Kline’s proposals aim to increase flexibility, improve accountability and support more effective teachers in the classroom.
“Regardless of the differences between elected leaders in Washington, education reform is an issue that will shape future generations and we cannot afford to let the conversation stall, “ Kline said. “I look forward to gaining input from my congressional colleagues, state and local leaders, and the American public on our ideas for recruiting more talented teachers, boosting accountability for school and student performance, and encouraging innovation and creativity in the classroom.”
Kline’s draft legislation, the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act, attempts to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind.
The Student Success Act suggests that there should be less federal control and more state and local autonomy so that states and school districts can better meet the needs of their students through increased flexibility. The Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act hopes to empower parents more by offering increased school choice and providing teacher effectiveness information to parents, while also eliminating federal programs deemed unnecessary or ineffective.
To read what the experts have to say on language-related education reform, click here to read from our January 2012 issue.
For more information on Kline’s draft legislation, click here.
