a request for information on behalf of a Congressman

[Kenneth Bernstein <kber@earthlink.net>]

Some of you will receive multiple copies, as I am posting this request to multiple lists.  Yesterday I had meeting with a Congressman not on Miller's education committee but personally very strongly interested in education.  He, and his chief of staff, were kind enough to spend almost an hour with me.

Two specific requests for which I need help.

1)  This Congressman has a strong personal interest in issues of special education.  While the list of points put out by Rep Miller include modifying "assessment and accountability so that the academic progress of students can be accrately measured and reported" the Congressman is concerned that we miss the point on severely developmentally impaired students.  We need to be assessing that we are properly preparing them for life skills, for being able to function at least semi-independently. We have a responsibility to ensure that these students are receiving an appropriate education, but so far NCLB does not seem to properly account for them.  In fact, there is real concern that requiring them to be tested in ordinary fashion may lead to a dragging down of overall scores for any school.   

Thus the Congressman is very interested in any research on properly assessing such students in particular, and special education students in general, and how we can ensure that they receive equitable treatment in their education - in other words, accountability without punishing the school in which they are located for the fact that they will never reach ordinary proficienty levels.

2) This particular Congressman is VERY INTERESTED in any documentation of who is profiting from NCLB.   He is aware of course of the Reading First scandal, and worries that such may be the tip of the iceberg.  I know that there is some documentation available, and have myself written about some examples, specifically the clients of Sandy Kress.  He knows also about Neil Bush and Ignite!

Do not assume that I know what you know.  If you think it might be pertinent, don't worry about overburdening me.   

I have reason to believe that despite not being on the Committee this Congressman is in a position of some influence for a variety of reasons.   Thus I appreciate any help you can offer.


Thanks

teacherken aka ken bernstein 

Kenneth J. Bernstein