Washington D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 2, 2012. The Center for American Progress yesterday released an analysis finding that legislation to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, championed by Rep. John Klein (R-MN), chairman of the House Education & Workforce Committee, would actually weaken equity provisions in the law designed to ensure disadvantaged students get a fair shot at a good education.
While the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act would increase state and local control over education, they would also undermine how historically disadvantaged students are treated and how schools with low-income students are funded. For example, New York would lose $63 million in funding to improve teaching if the bill were passed.
Among the problems identified in the analysis is the fact that the Klein proposal would significantly change federal funding patterns. Some changes would diminish the targeting of federal resources based on poverty levels in schools, districts, and states. Other changes would create incentives to divert education funding.
The CAP analysis provides a state-by-state breakdown of the impact of these formula changes and finds that funding levels under the Klein proposal are tied to population growth, rather than poverty level. States experiencing low population growth, such as West Virginia and New York, would suffer the most dramatic loss in funding levels under the Klein proposal. In contrast, states gaining funds tend to be the Western and Southern states that experienced high population growth from 2000 to 2010.
“Every student deserves a fair shot at a good education,” said Jeremy Ayers, Senior Education Analyst and co-author of the analysis. “But the Kline bills would weaken provisions for disadvantaged students. America’s education system should work for the benefit of all students, not just some.”
The No Child Left Behind Act, is the nation’s largest publication education law, and it’s reauthorization is far past due. Significant changes to the next version of ESEA will require bipartisan efforts. The brief recommends that ESEA reauthorization should include the following to promote educational equality:
- Hold all schools accountable for getting results with all students.
- Invest in teachers and principals so they become more skilled and effective.
- Make funding practices more fair and efficient so every student gets a fair shot at adequate resource.
- Target support to low-performing schools.
Read the report: Cut and Run: House Republicans’ Education Plan Would Shortchange Disadvantaged Students and Schools
Source: americanprogress.org
