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About FEA
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Joint Statement Calls for Overhaul of NCLB Accountability The Joint Organizational Statement on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) calls for significant changes to NCLB accountability requirements. NCLB Title I-funded schools that fail to reach arbitrary Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets are subject to escalating sanctions. No scientific evidence shows that the AYP percentage targets are achievable or that the sanctions produce improved learning. Researchers conclude that most schools will eventually fail to make AYP. Rather than test and punish, the federal law should help schools get better. With federal support, all NCLB-funded schools would implement high-quality professional development for teachers and administrators, involve parents more deeply in school improvement, and enable families to better participate in their children’s education. The law would hold schools and districts responsible for implementing these positive changes. At the same time, schools would
continue to assess and publicly report student learning, but based on
multiple measures, not just test scores. “Proficiency” targets would now be
based on rates of success actually achieved by the most effective Title I
public schools. The Joint Organizational Statement on No Child Left Behind (NCLB), signed by 121 national education, civil rights, religious, disability and civic organizations as of April 23, 2007, describes basic principles for creating a balanced accountability system. The Forum on Educational Accountability (FEA), a working group of the signers, has prepared legislative recommendations to implement these principles. Both are at www.edaccountability.org. Congress can take a critical step toward improving learning and actually leaving no child behind by supporting FEA’s accountability recommendations and providing adequate funding for them. To contact your representatives, go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. |
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