June 19, 2008: Letter to Representatives Graves and Walz

June 19, 2008

The Honorable Sam Graves U.S. House of Representatives 1415 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Timothy J. Walz     U.S. House of Representatives     1529 Longworth House Office Building     Washington, DC 20515

Re:     No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Recess Until Reauthorization Act, 
           H.R. 6239

Dear Representatives Graves and Walz:

The National School Boards Association (NSBA), representing 95,000 local school board members across the nation through our state school boards associations, would like to express our support for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Recess Until Reauthorization Act, H.R. 6239.

We continue to support the goals of NCLB to improve the academic achievement of every student. However, after six years of implementation, we are fully aware of the flawed accountability system which has resulted in the misidentification of schools and mandated costly sanctions that have proven to have little, if any, effect on improved student achievement. Having recognized the flawed accountability system, schools should not be unfairly penalized, and Congress should move quickly to provide some temporary relief for our schools and school districts from further expansion of sanctions until the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) can be completed when the new Congress convenes in January 2009.

We very much appreciate your continuing support for the nation’s public schools and for improving student achievement. Questions concerning our position may be directed to Reginald M. Felton, director of federal relations, at 703-838-6782.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Resnick
Associate Executive Director