Tell Congress To Overhaul NCLB

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

I care about and support public education, and I believe that the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is hurting, not helping, our nation's schoolchildren.

All of our children deserve a public education system that allows them to fulfill their potential. As a country, we benefit from a system that provides that opportunity. Unfortunately, NCLB is not helping us achieve that goal. Six years of experience with the law have shown that there are fundamental problems with NCLB that require fundamental changes. Tweaking around the edges will not suffice. Congress has an opportunity during reauthorization to craft legislation that will help ensure that all of our nation's students, particularly our most disadvantaged, get the excellent education they deserve.

Congress, with real input from educators working on the frontlines, should design a law that first and foremost provides a framework for providing students a high-quality, well-rounded education. That framework should include high standards, real accountability that gives credit for progress, a commitment to focusing on interventions that work rather than on sanctions that don't, and to providing the resources needed to meet the law's requirements.

The fact is, NCLB is not about teaching and learning, it is primarily about testing and punishment. Today, our schools are more focused on test preparation than on actual teaching and learning. The result is that our children are not being exposed to the well-rounded curriculum that will prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

We have an opportunity and a responsibility to do more and to do better for our children. I urge you to keep these thoughts in mind as you consider changes to NCLB.

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