REFERENCE TITLE: NCLB; opt out

State of Arizona House of Representatives Forty-ninth Legislature Second Regular Session 2010

HCR 2014

Introduced by Representatives Mason, Seel

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTIon

 

supporting the decision of states to opt out of the no child left behind act.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) mandates a number of programs intended to improve United States primary education by increasing accountability standards; and

Whereas, the NCLB is based on flawed, outcome-based theories that high expectations and goal setting will result in greater educational achievement for students; and

Whereas, the NCLB, initially legislated for five years, has faced criticism on various fronts as it has been considered for reauthorization; and

Whereas, the federal government has failed to adequately fund NCLB at the state level, yet requires states to comply with its provisions or lose federal monies.  This lack of funding has forced most states to make budget cuts in nontested school subjects as well as for books, supplies and field trips; and

Whereas, the NCLB encourages students to score well on standardized tests rather than truly learning the vital skills and knowledge they will need to compete in the world economy.  The mixed results in standardized tests since the act's inception indicate the NCLB has not achieved its goal of improving education; and

Whereas, the tests themselves are deeply flawed and contain cultural biases.  Further, states are permitted to set their own standards and establish their own standardized tests, allowing them to make the tests unusually easy to ensure higher scores; and

Whereas, the NCLB sets very high teacher qualifications, not only requiring teachers to pass numerous proficiency tests but also requiring new teachers to obtain one or more college degrees in specific subjects.  These strict standards have contributed to the national teacher shortage, not provided a stronger teaching force; and

Whereas, federal involvement in education erodes state and local control over education, and the federal government has no constitutional authority in this area; and

Whereas, in 2005, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman signed into law legislation allowing school districts to ignore NCLB provisions that clash with Utah state law.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature express their dissatisfaction with the deeply flawed provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act and encourage states to opt out of complying with the act.