Resolution Supporting the Principles of No Child Left Behind Exposed

The Resolution Supporting the Principles of No Child Left Behind was adopted by ALEC's Education Task Force at the States and Nation Policy Summit in December, 2005, approved by the ALEC Board of Directors in January, 2006. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

CMD's Bill Summary

This resolution supports the Bush Administration's controversial "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) Act.

ALEC Bill Text

WHEREAS, the closing of the academic achievement gap as well as the raising of overall academic performance for each child in the United States is of paramount importance to the future economic strength and security of our country, and

WHEREAS, the nation’s economic security and stability requires a high degree of proficiency in math, science and reading in order to maintain a competitive advantage in the world marketplace, and

WHEREAS, proficiency for all students and closure of the achievement gap, focused on math, science and reading, is fundamentally linked to overall reform of our system of public education through a strong system of accountability and transparency and built on state standards, and

WHEREAS, the No Child Left Behind Act fundamentally changes the focus of federal government resources from a system-based focus to a child-based focus, and

WHEREAS, equipping parents with the information necessary to make effective decisions regarding the education of their child, including academic growth and accountability standards, is an essential step toward each child reaching his or her potential, and

WHEREAS, the responsibility for the education of each child of this nation primarily lies with parents, supported by locally elected school boards and state governments, the role of the federal government has become evident, and

WHEREAS, the 1954 Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. Bd. of Education firmly established a constitutional requirement that every child be afforded equal opportunity to a quality education regardless of race, creed or background, and

WHEREAS, in 1965 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) put in place a voluntary federal grant system of fundamental financial support to aid state governments in the closure of the achievement gap, and

WHEREAS, the passage of the Department of Education Organization Act of 1979 created the US Department of Education, and

WHEREAS, in 1983 in a report released by the U.S. Department of Education entitled “A Nation at Risk,” the challenges of improving our system of public education were clearly outlined, and

WHEREAS, in 1989, the nations’ Governors came together for the first time for a substantive dialogue about education reform, resulting in the adoption of National Education Goals that aimed to have U.S. students lead the world in math and science by the year 2000, and

WHEREAS, in 1994 the United States Congress restructured and reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to be referred to as the Improving America’s Schools Act, which put in place accountability requirements built on state standards and required student assessments, and

WHEREAS, in 2001, only eleven states were in full compliance with the Improving America’s Schools Act yet all fifty states continued to receive ESEA funding, and

WHEREAS, in 2001, with overwhelming bipartisan support, the United States Congress again restructured and reauthorized ESEA to be referred to as the No Child Left Behind Act, and

WHEREAS, the foundational principles of the No Child Left Behind Act are built upon the premise that each child can learn regardless of background or upbringing, especially when parents, as the primary educator of their children, have educational choices for their children, and

WHEREAS, since the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law on January 8, 2002, there has been progress made across the country in closing the achievement gap.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Legislative Exchange Council, supports the principles embodied in the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that while states continue to maintain a key responsibility for educating children of our nation, the federal government is a partner in this collaborative effort to ensure that each child is given equal opportunity to become a successful, productive citizen of the United States.

Adopted by the Education Task Force at the States and Nation Policy Summit, December 2005.

Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors January 2006.