Much ado about No Child Left Behind this week. The National Education Association unveiled a slick, multi-million dollar public relations campaign, complete with radio and TV spots and backed by an NEA-commissioned poll that "reveals that the more voters learn about the real world impact of the two-year-old federal education law, the so-called 'No Child Left Behind' Act, the more they believe changes must be made." Unfortunately for the NEA, that assertion is undercut by reporting in USA Today, which actually read the polling data closely and concluded precisely the opposite: that, as voters hear more about NCLB, the more they like it. As an internal NEA memo obtained by USA Today notes, "Once our opponents have an opportunity to provide voters with their descriptions of the content of the law, swaying them becomes increasingly difficult." Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates continue to trumpet their opposition to NCLB on the campaign trail. Into all this sturm und drang wades Education Secretary Rod Paige, who this week leveled a potentially explosive charge - that districts are not accurately and honestly reporting whether students are making adequate yearly progress - and announced that no wholesale legislative fixes to NCLB are envisioned (through "regulatory" tweaks may be in order).
"Schools need more flexibility and funding to meet promise of "No Child Left Behind" law, NEA bipartisan poll shows," National Education Association press release, January 14, 2004
"Members speak out," NEA advertising campaign (Real Player required)
"Democrats attack school reforms at political peril," USA Today editorial, January 12, 2004
"Bush education critics jab ineffectively," by Chris Sheridan, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 11, 2004
"Failing schools underreported," by George Archibald, Washington Times, January 13, 2004
"Education act won't be open to change," by George Archibald, Washington Times, January 14, 2004
"Voters optimistic on public schools", by George Archibald, The Washington Times, Jan. 15, 2004, Page A5