District Administration - July/August 2011 - (Page 20)

InsidetheLaw U.S. Secretary of edUcation arne duncan perhaps reached his breaking point in early June when he gave congress an ultimatum to fix no child Left Behind or he would begin issuing waivers to districts facing sanctions under the bill. education advocacy groups, including the american association of School administrators (aaSa) and the national School Boards association (nSBa), have been campaigning for this form of regulatory relief since it became clear that reauthorization of the elementary and Secondary education act—ncLB’s formal title—would not occur by the upcoming school year. The bill, which has not been revised since it was enacted in 2002, maintains that all students must be proficient by 2014. Michael resnick, associate executive director of nSBa, says the organization is “heartened” by duncan’s decision, but he wonders what provisions will be lifted, what reform models districts will have to Br iefings by Marion Herbert Will NCLB Regulatory Relief Come in Time? Former President George W. Bush enacted No Child Left Behind in 2002. Until its reauthorization, educators are hoping sanctions will be waived by the start of the school year. comply with in exchange for relief, and whether any applications for relief will be approved before the start of school. “We have some real doubts as to whether this process will reach the local level in time,” says resnick. duncan first put pressure on congress in March when he said that under ncLB’s current guidelines, 82 percent of schools will face sanctions in the upcoming school year for failing to make adequate yearly Progress. With august recess around the corner, congress has made minimal progress by Race to the Top’s New Early Learning Endeavor THis suMMer, THe u.s. DepArTMenT of education has teamed up with the Department of Health and Human services to invest in early childhood learning. under the DOe’s signature competitive grant program, race to the Top, states can earn money to create robust, coordinated programs to close the school readiness gap and, in turn, reduce crime and strengthen the national economy. secretary of education Arne Duncan and secretary of Health and Human services Kathleen sebelius announced the $500 million grant on May 25 and accepted public feedback on its criteria through July 11. The school readiness gap can appear as early as one year of age, says Jacqueline Jones, senior advisor on early learning for the Department of education. “Data shows real differences in math, language and literacy achievement scores in kindergarten for children coming from homes of poverty, where english isn’t the first language, where the mother’s education is less than a high school diploma, single parent homes—all of these are major risk factors,” says Jones. if not tackled early, she says, the readiness gap widens. “Our collective health and financial security as a nation will depend on highquality investments during the critical early years of a child’s life,” said secretary sebelius. Jones said the programs supported by these grants are to help states build a more coordinated system for early education. For example, Head start programs are one learning program and are created by funding streams. in many cases, however, children are in and out of a few different programs before they reach kindergarten. “We’re not just adding to the array of early learning. We’re trying to leverage the funds and bring Head start, Title i, 20 July/August 2011 District Administration

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - July/August 2011

District Administration - July/August 2011
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
Facilities News
Inside the Law
District Profile
Administrator Profile
The Social Media Dilemma
Is Year-Round Schooling on Track?
After 50 Years, Ethnic Studies Still Controversial
Finding the Right Purchasing Solution
Look, Listen, Learn
Research Center
Supervisor’s Opinion
Going Mobile
Superintendent’s Insight
Books
Product Focus
New Products
Online Edge

District Administration - July/August 2011