Lawmakers’ group hears hopefuls’ education plans
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NEW ORLEANS — Presidential contenders Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., have sharply different views on the need for changes in a landmark federal education law, aides made clear on Wednesday.
The measure, called the No Child Left Behind Act, was a key topic during a two-hour session on education policies backed by McCain, the expected Republican nominee for president, and Obama, the presumptive Democratic pick.
Their views were spelled out by Lisa Graham-Keegan, a McCain education adviser who said the law needs measured changes and Linda Darling-Hammond, an education aide for Obama who suggested that NCLB needs a sweeping review.
Graham-Keegan is Arizona’s former superintendent of public instruction. Darling-Hammond is a professor of education at Stanford University.
The forum took place at the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures, which has attracted about 6,500 lawmakers and others from around the nation.
The law, which took effect in 2002, is designed to improve public schools through a wide range of changes, including annual measures of school progress, improved teacher skills and by narrowing the achievement gap.
Backers contend NCLB has clearly improved student achievement. Critics argue that lack of funding and unrealistic goals have caused major problems.
About 250,000 Louisiana students in third, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth grades have to take annual tests each spring to see if they are meeting state standards that stem from the federal law.
“The law has significant flaws that need to be addressed,” Darling-Hammond said. “No Child left the money behind,” she added.
By some estimates, Darling-Hammond said, the law is underfunded by $71 billion.
Graham-Keegan told the group that, while NCLB has problems, it also allows citizens to check on the condition of public schools nationwide and quickly gather a wide array of valuable information.
Graham-Keegan said that, while she would like to say McCain would guarantee $50 billion or so to carry out the law, such a commitment would be unrealistic in light of national economic problems.
The pair also disagreed on how students should be assessed.
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