Virginia Legislature Adopts Bill Allowing NCLB Opt-Out

[Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>]

ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL TO ALLOW "NO CHILD" OPT-OUT
Washington Post -- March 9, 2008

Richmond -- Virginia's Board of Education would be directed to recommend 
whether the state should pull out of a federal school accountability 
system under legislation that cleared the General Assembly Saturday. It 
now awaits consideration by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D).

Virginia is among several states in which officials have argued that the 
federal government has failed to provide enough funding and flexibility 
to carry out the No Child Left Behind law, which requires annual testing 
in math and reading for many children.

The measure that passed the House on Friday and the Senate on Saturday 
would not have an immediate impact. If the Board of Education recommends 
withdrawal from the federal accountability system, the bill would 
require the board to present a plan to the governor and legislature by 
June 30, 2009.

Congress is considering whether to amend the 6-year-old federal law. 
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) has said he plans to introduce a bill 
this spring.

The federal law requires annual testing in grades three through eight 
and once in high school. Schools and school systems must show annual 
progress, and the results must include scores for subgroups of students 
such as ethnic minorities, disabled students and those with limited 
English skills.

The law has been credited with revealing pockets of struggling students. 
But states and localities have complained they are stuck with too much 
of the cost. Some also argue that the law is too rigid.

In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit revived a 
lawsuit by the National Education Association and several school systems 
that challenged the law as an unfunded mandate. The U.S. Education 
Department is appealing.


   
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030802333_pf.html