Let’s get it right?

The AFT wants to reform, rather than repeal, NCLB. No surprise there. Fred says: change the fundamentals of NCLB, and it won’t be NCLB anymore. So today I get postcards in the mail from the AFT, so that I can write my congressman to reform NCLB. And about 15 more cards to give co-workers.

Now, I’ll fill it out, send it in, and get coworkers to fill in the rest in a few weeks when school restarts. But I am disappointed by how weak the language is. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to ask for repeal? (and we could have put bigger letters on the postcard!)

I would at least have liked something about reducing the testing. Oh well. Here’s the text:

A reauthorized NCLB must:

• Provide a fair and accurate accountability system that recognizes student progress.
• Provide educators the support and resources they need to succeed in the classroom. It should not impose new and unnecessary requirements on teachers.
• Increase support for research-based interventions to truly struggling schools to help raise student achievement.
• Provide to districts and schools the funds they need to ensure that our children and teachers have the very best to do their very best.