Federal Education Bill Inches Forward

Are we in the last days before passage of the federal education legislation, "No Child Left Behind," HR1? According to reports, progress has pushed forward toward resolving some differences between the U.S. House and Senate. (See our previous update on HR1)

Left unresolved is an extraordinarily contentious issue: Will the federal government monitor state compliance with the new federal curriculum through one federal test, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)? Or will they allow states to choose one of several nationally norm referenced tests (as in Iowa Basics) to monitor compliance? The Senate wants states to use only the federal NAEP test. The House allows states to choose among several testing company options.

The Senate NAEP-only version is a more direct federal control of every school's curriculum. The House test-option version is less heavy handed. It would make federal enforcement of the national curriculum more difficult. (See an analysis of the NAEP test.)

This federal bill forces accountability to the federal government for all local schools and teachers. It is the mechanism that drives the hated Profile of Learning in Minnesota and the so-called "Small Learning Communities" (forced School-to-Work) around the country. Federal "accountability" means that state standards are simply federal standards.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), for example, is a creation of the 1994 Goals 2000 legislation. The math standards the NCTM have set up as the national standard are "constructivist" math curriculum. What is constructivist math?

"No longer should teachers be constrained by the artificial restriction to numbers that children know how to employ in the paper-and-pencil algorithms of arithmetic ... because the calculator will be able to add or multiply the data even if the children have not yet learned how." (Appendix G, MN Goals 2000 Technology Plan, Sept. 1995)

"Weakness in algebraic skills need no longer prevent students from understanding ideas in more advanced mathematics. Just as computerized spelling checkers permit writers to express ideas without the psychological block of terrible spelling, so will the new calculators enable motivated students who are weak in algebra or trigonometry to persevere in calculus or statistics." (Appendix G, MN Goals 2000 Technology Plan, Sept. 1995)

In other words, students do not know how to "do math" as usually understood, since calculators can do that for them. The above quotes are all aligned with the NCTM "standards." National standards are not "high" standards. The public is being sold a bill of goods.

ACTION ITEM: Call Congressional leaders. Tell them to oppose the Senate NAEP-only testing version of "No Child Left Behind," HR1.

1. Members of the Conference Committee:

Of particular importance, contact:

John Boehner (OH) 202-225-6205
Michael Castle (DE) 202-225-4165
Lindsey Graham (SC) 202-225-5301
Van Hilleary (TN) 202-225-6831
Johnny Isakson (GA) 202-225-4501
Buck McKeon (CA) 202-225-1956
Thomas Petri (WI) 202-225-2476
Marge Roukema (NJ) 202-225-4465

2. The White House Comment Line: 202-456-6213. The President has tremendous influence on the final bill. He needs to be hearing from people.

3. Some members of the leadership teams:

Speaker of the House	Dennis Hastert	202-225-2976
House Majority Leader	Dick Armey	202-225-7772
House Majority Whip	Tom DeLay	202-225-5951
House Republican Conference Chair	JC Watts	202-225-6165
House Republican Policy Committee Chair	Chris Cox	202-225-5611
Senate Minority Leader	Trent Lott	202-224-6253
Assistant Minority Leader	Don Nickles	202-224-5754

Associated Press
Nov. 28, 2001

WASHINGTON - In a breakthrough for President Bush's education bill, key lawmakers disclosed tentative compromises Tuesday on two key sticking points, one approving annual math and reading tests for millions of students and the other loosening strings on billions of dollars in federal funds.......

Federal Education Bill Inches Forward

Compromise revives Bush education bill Negotiations inch toward passage

Compromise revives Bush education bill
Negotiations inch toward passage