Board resolution recommends changes for No Child Left Behind Law
October 27, 2009 - The Wake County Board of Education has weighed in with its input for updating the federal No Child Left Behind law.Board Resolution
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After several months of discussion in the board’s committees, the board approved a resolution on October 20 that recommends nine changes to the federal law.
The changes include:
- An additional standard – academic growth – should be added to the performance standard. Schools should receive recognition for the percent of students in subgroups attaining predicted growth.
- The time frame for goal attainment should be modified to take into account both individual students needs and to recognize that some students will need more time to achieve grade level performance.
- A subgroup’s test results should be reported every year, but in order to be included in determining Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) the subgroup should exist at a school for two consecutive years.
- Annual Measurable Achievement Objective (AMAO) 3 under Title III should be removed since it is a duplication of the AYP Calculation for Title I.
The North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards (NCCLAS) should be re-instated or the NC EXTEND be considered for qualifying LEP students. - The development of alternate assessments should be allowed for students with disabilities that are measured against alternate or modified standards based on student growth expectations as determined through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
- Adjustments in calculating the AYP standard for high schools should be made to account for the upper age provision (of 21 years) for students with disabilities mandated under IDEA.
- Once a state is granted a waiver, that waiver should be made available to other states.
- Districts should be allowed to use set-aside Title I funds to provide transportation for students participating in Supplemental Education Services (SES).
The changes are further discussed in a two-page document developed by the board and school system staff.
In the resolution, the board notes that the Wake County Public School System is the 18th largest in the nation and the largest in North Carolina with a population of 140,000 including 12,417 Limited English Proficient students and 18,690 Students With Disabilities.
The 2001 law called for every state to set standards in reading and math, and for every student to be proficient at those subjects by 2014. Congress is expected to begin discussions on updating the law in the coming months.