Most Major Party Pres. Candidates Seek NCLB Overhaul

[Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>]

FairTest
National Center for Fair & Open Testing

for further information:
Dr. Monty Neill (617) 522-0801
or Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773

for immediate release, Thursday, December 27, 2007
MAJOR PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CRITICIZE “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND”;
MOST REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS SEEK LAW’S OVERHAUL;
CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS REFLECT GROWING PUBLIC OPPOSITION

On the eve of the first round of state caucuses and primaries, nearly 
all candidates for president – both Republican and Democrat – are 
calling for an overhaul of “No Child Left Behind,” according to a 
compilation of campaign statements released today by the National Center 
for Fair & Open Testing 
(http://www.fairtest.org/NCLBpresidentialCandidatesPositions.pdf).
The FairTest report shows that every Democratic contender has called for 
major changes in NCLB; several have endorsed scrapping it. Among 
Republicans, only Mitt Romney has stated strong support for the law.
“The candidates are clearly listening to the growing majority of voters 
who recognize that ‘No Child Left Behind’ is hurting educational quality 
and equity,” explained FairTest Executive Director Monty Neill. “The 
next presidential administration will likely support a comprehensive 
overhaul of federal education law.”
FairTest coordinates the Forum on Educational Accountability, which 
seeks to implement the Joint Organizational Statement on NCLB endorsed 
by 141 education, civil rights, religious, disability, parent, civic, 
and labor groups representing more than 50 million Americans.

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Details of the Forum on Educational Accountability's NCLB overhaul 
proposals are available online at: http://www.edaccountability.org and 
http://www.fairtest.org