An OSBA newsletter for school board members on the No Child Left Behind Act — December 2005

Curriculum issues                                                                               by Rob Delane, director of school board development
Toll-free NCLB information line set up to answer superintendents’ questions
A No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) information line is available for superintendents seeking answers to questions about NCLB and its implementation. Questions on any topic, including Reading First, adequate yearly progress, highly qualified teacher provisions, public school choice options and supplemental educational services are welcome. The superintendents’ information line is staffed on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. The number is (888) NCLB-SUP (625-2787). Questions also can asked by e-mail at NCLBSUP@ed.gov. For more information, visit www.ed.gov.

Legal issues                                                                                                                             by Hollie F. Reedy, staff attorney
States will not lose federal funds if 100% of teachers not highly qualified
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said that states will not lose federal funds if 100% of the teachers are not highly qualified by the end of the 2005–06 school year, as long as they are implementing the law and making good-faith efforts to comply. To determine whether states are making good-faith efforts, the education department will look at four areas: the state‘s definition of highly qualified teachers (HQT); how states are communicating HQT information to parents; completeness and accuracy of HQT data that states report to the education department; and steps states have taken to ensure that highly qualified teachers are distributed equally in schools with poor and minority students, as well as with other students. For further information: visit www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/051021.html.

Legislative issues                                                                                     by Fred Pausch, director of legislative services
Vouchers still in hurricane relief bill for schools
The U.S. Senate approved an amended version of S. 1904, the hurricane relief plan that includes private school vouchers. Debate continues on the overall budget reconciliation bill, S. 1932, which is expected to pass. Anne L. Bryant, National School Boards Association executive director, said, “The vote comes on the heels of the Senate’s passage of the education appropriations bill ... that included barely noticeable increases for critical public school programs, such as Title I and IDEA, that help millions of children nationwide. It would also occur at a time when Congress, through the budget reconciliation process, may well set the stage for several years of lower funding for public schools nationwide.”