Minn. Legislative Committe Votes to Withdraw from NCLB

[Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>]

Note the bipartisan nature of the support for this proposal. Sec. 
Spellings recent visit to the Twin Cities apparently did little to 
persuade Minnesota elected officials that NCLB was doing more good than 
harm.
<>HOUSE K-12 FINANCE COMMITTEE ENDS STATE PARTICIPATION IN NO CHILD LEFT 
BEHIND FEDERAL TESTING
Coon Rapids (MN) Herald -- March 26, 2008
by T.W. Budig

The House K-12 Finance Committee on Tuesday (March 25) voted to end 
Minnesota’s participation in the federal testing program, No Child Left 
Behind (NCLB).

The committee on a bipartisan vote adopted an amendment by Rep. Pat 
Garofalo, R-Farmington, for the state to drop out of NCLB

“If it feels good, do it,” Garofalo urged committee members of voting 
for his amendment, several of whom expressing sourness over the mandated 
testing but also qualms about opting out. “I would say we are smart 
enough to run our schools,” Garofalo said.

Loss of $200 million in funding

Opting out of NCLB could mean the loss of about $200 million in federal 
funding, he argued. But that’s not even covering the cost, Garofalo opined.

House K-12 Finance Committee Chairwoman Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, 
backed Garofalo’s amendment, saying her stance on NCLB had evolved from 
“mend it to end it.”

E-12 Education Committee Chairman Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, called 
the amendment “very tempting” but also praised NCLB for shining light on 
the achievement gap dodging students of students of color.

Rep Denise Dittrich, DFL-Champlin, argued that the Legislature had a 
history of promoting education reforms only to later abandon them — pull 
the rug out from under the school districts.

“It would be just one more failed policy,” said Dittrich of the state 
opting out of NCLB.

But on a voice vote, followed by a show of hands, the K-12 Finance 
Committee adopted the amendment.

Commissioner Seagren surprised

“I’m a little surprised at it,” said Education Commissioner Alice 
Seagren after the vote.

Last session lawmakers had a good discussion about NCLB, she explained.

“We really brought together a bipartisan group of people and we decided 
to mend it, not end it,” said Seagren.

Currently, the state is seeking additional flexibility from federal 
authority for implementing NCLB, Seagren explained.

"I think we're moving in the right direction on No Child Left Behind. 
None of us, I think, want to move away from accountability," said Seagren

The program has forced policy makers to really focus on solving the 
achievement gap, she explained. “It has really caused us to look at what 
we need to be doing to help those children that have been so far behind 
for so many years,” said Seagren.

The K-12 Finance Committee passed its finance supplemental budget bill, 
now containing the Garofalo amendment, out of committee.

The legislation has further House committee stops.

http://hometownsource.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4400&Itemid=29

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