The Rockgirt, Nebraska school system cancelled its school year, fearing potential violations of the No Child Left Behind act. "The federal government wants us to do everything we can to leave no child behind. Well, that's impossible, so we've decided to leave all children behind. It's fair, it's equitable, and it will mean a lot fewer headaches for district staff this year," says superintendent I. M. Dimne. School system attorney Thomas Hilton advised the district that "The most prudent course is to lock students out of schools. Rockgirt ISD receives $43,837.21 in federal education aid and we dare not place this crucial funding in harm's way by attempting to educate students." Next year, the entire district budget will be diverted to professional development and teacher training, in hopes of building "the most effective, well-trained staff of non-educators in the country," according to Dimne.
"District cancels school, citing NCLB conflict," by Ursula Dobbs, Rockgirt Daily Tattler, March 20, 2005.