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Considerable discussion in the education press has taken place regarding waivers—and for good reason. States awarded these waivers will essentially be allowed to rewrite a major portion of NCLB—at least until Congress takes action. Because these waivers are so significant, it’s worth looking at the fundamentals.
Since 1994, federal law has required states to establish standards and assessments that measure student mastery of those standards, and to identify and assist Title I schools that did not make sufficient progress. In 2001, when the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was passed, these requirements were strengthened. And for the first time, schools and districts were held accountable for ensuring that all students reach proficiency in math and reading by the 2013–2014 school year.
Over the past 14 months, the National Chamber Foundation (NCF), Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), and U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) have worked with key partners in the business community to highlight the extent of the crisis in our schools, identify forces standing in the way of needed change, and promote positive solutions such as competition, accountability, and choice to provide America’s children with the education they deserve and employers with the workers they need. Through their partnership, NCF, ICW and USCC reached business, opinion, and local leaders around the country by screening the documentary Waiting for “Superman,” creating and distributing materials and resources to state and local chambers of commerce, and engaging local and state business leaders to host follow-up forums and events to invigorate our grassroots network.
In May, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) expanded its commitment to the preparation children receive prior to kindergarten, an area recent research has shown to be integral to academic success, with the announcement that new Race to the Top funds would be used for grants to enhance early childhood education Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius joined business, law enforcement, and military leaders to announce the Race to the Top—Early Learning Challenge, highlighting how investments in high-quality early learning programs help reduce crime, strengthen national security, and boost competitiveness.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act established two high-profile programs that have continued, thanks to subsequent funding from Congress. The first of these, Investing in Innovation (i3), awards three types of grants to incubate and test promising innovations in education. While the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires schools to use programs that are supported by research, very few products or programs in education meet this standard.
Judging by testimony provided at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on November 8, the least controversial component of the recently marked-up Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) rewrite is the requirement for college- and career-ready standards. Nearly all hearing witnesses praised the requirement, which would drive states to adopt more rigorous and challenging standards. Witnesses ranged from scholars to education reformers, to practitioners at the state, district, and school building levels.
In September, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan invited states to apply for waivers from key provisions of NCLB. Duncan provided two deadlines to submit waivers, the first of which was November 14.
The Executive Interview Series is an opportunity for hear from experts in the field of CSR about the impact of their programs throughout the communities in which they operate. The Series explores various CSR topics from health and wellness and sustainability, to education and volunteerism.
