The Anniversary of NCLB

Reflecting on the sixth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act, it's unfortunate that so many are using the initiative as a political punching bag despite the merit of its overall approach and many of its provisions, and despite the progress (albeit modest) we've seen since its implementation. Instead of offering meaningful ways to address the legislation's current shortcomings, more and more politicians are going for the easy applause line by saying we should scrap the entire bill. Republicans hate it because the accountability measures have teeth and are administered at the Federal level, and Democrats hate it because it's a highly-touted Bush domestic achievement and because it's been consistently underfunded (thereby undermining many of its intentions).

The enactment of NCLB is itself a great example of the things we can accomplish when legislators place results over politics. During reauthorization of the bill, these same legislators need to seize upon the opportunity to seriously and honestly assess both the successes and the lessons learned of the last six years. It will also be important for all the stakeholders (particularly the teachers' unions) to be honest brokers and to put the best interests of students ahead of everything else. It is an opportunity that we cannot bypass and it is one that shouldn't be punted down the road. Our children deserve more than that.

Ted Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and an original author of the bill, reflects on the 6th anniversary of NCLB.