Report Says Schools Lack Funding to Comply with NCLB

The so-called No Child Left Behind law puts the burden on schools and educators to comply with strict federal standards, but doesn't supply federal money to make necessary changes, says a new report released by the Center on Education Policy. Approximately 80 percent of school districts said they have costs associated with the law that are not covered by federal funding.

The report's release follows news this week that in 2004-2005, 27 percent of schools failed to meet "adequate yearly progress" and will face stiff penalties.

NEA President Reg Weaver said, "It should come as no surprise that schools are having a hard time meeting the one size fits all standards of the law."

In an official statement , Weaver also said, "Lawmakers say they want accountability, they want results, but they won't back up the rhetoric. Schools are already hurting because No Child Left Behind has been underfunded by approximately $40 billion. Now, Congress is talking about cutting even more, as part of the biggest cuts in the history of the Education Department as proposed by the president. If these lawmakers aren't held accountable for these cuts, students are going to feel the impact for years to come."

The CEP's report, From the Capital to the Classroom: Year 4 of the No Child Left Behind Act , says a majority of districts surveyed - 71 percent - reported having reduced instructional time in at least one other subject to make more time for reading and mathematics, the topics tested for NCLB purposes.

A CEP news release and the complete report are available here on the CEP Web site.

March 2006