Dear LakewoodAlive members: The reputation of Lakewood schools has a direct impact on our economic development efforts. Please see Dr. Estrop's message below concerning his discussion with Congressman Kucinich on the issue of applying No Child Left Behind standards to our large and diverse district.

Subject: Meeting with Congressman Kucinich

Responding to our Convocation message, Congressman Dennis Kucinich called a meeting yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, 9/15) for area school Superintendents on the subject of the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. Congressman Kucinich listened to our concerns and shared the discussion draft of the NCLB Bill currently before the House Education and Labor Committee (Congressman Kucinich sets on this committee) and asked for our feedback. Below, please find a summary of the Draft Bill for your review. Congressman Kucinich asked that we circulate this information to school staff, parents, and community leaders.

Now is the time to act! Congressman Kucinich stated that the committee hoped to move the bill out of committee by September 24th. Participating in the discussion and reviewing the draft, I commented that the federal government needed to provide more resources (fully funding NCLB) and more time for larger diverse district to meet federal standards. In addition, I mentioned that the inherent conflict between the federal IDEA Law governing special education (setting goals and establishing services for individual students to meet those goals) and the NCLB Act (requiring special education students to make the same progress in the same time period as regular education students) was left unresolved.

I also commented that the multiple indicators and assessments was a step in the right direction, as was use of growth models. The N size requirement does standardize this issue nationally, but does not resolve the issue of small schools and school districts having the ability to fly under the federal radar. I also expressed support for the additional flexibility in the English Language Learners (ELLs) provisions.

In addition, I noted that the two tier system in the discussion draft would again favor those schools and school districts that are small and homogenous in nature. I believe that Congressman Kucinich was truly concerned about federal policy playing out to the advantage of some districts while disadvantaging others. I sincerely appreciate Congress Kucinich setting up this meeting and I hope that you will follow up by communicating your concerns and ideas to NCLBfeedback.Kucinich@mail.house.gov .

Thanks
David Estrop
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND DRAFT HOUSE BILL.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION.


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