RESOLUTION

The Illinois Association of School Administrators ( "IASA") has long supported that school districts be accountable for the success of their children. The IASA consequently supported the No Child Left Behind Act ( "NCLB"), which was signed into law in January 2002 as a way to improve schools. The IASA supported the NCLB provisions of higher test scores, schools being held accountable, students being taught by highly qualified teachers, the increase of attendance rates, the increase of high school graduation rates, and students being taught in a safe environment. The IASA was excited about the possibilities of educational funds flowing to school districts to help students improve. Sad to say, the bureaucratic
interpretation of these admirable goals set forth by Congress has literally destroyed this potentially positive legislation. While this legislation was well intended, it has proven to be woefully underfunded and yet another financial burden on the schools, as has been the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( "IDEA") for special education.

WHEREAS, the IASA strongly disagrees with the premise that quality and
complexity of teaching and learning can be adequately and solely assessed on one chievement test during the school year; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Education continues to treat special education and Limited English Proficiency ( "LEP") students as a subgroup to determine the effectiveness of schools; and

WHEREAS, these students have been identified, through their Individual Education Program ( "IEP") as having some type of disability; and

WHEREAS, the IASA strongly asserts that 1% of IEP students is insufficient for alternate assessment; and

WHEREAS, school choice is a NCLB solution for students who are academically at risk, IASA believes supplemental services determined by the individual school district should be the first intervention instead of school choice; and

WHEREAS, presently under NCLB schools are being judged for their effectiveness without looking into the students’ poverty and other environmental problems; and WHEREAS, there is presently no legislation regarding the NCLB Act that has any basis of research; and

WHEREAS, the fact has been established that the NCLB Act is already underfunded based on projected needs; and

WHEREAS, IASA does not believe sanctions established by NCLB for identifying “failing schools” are constructive to the educational process; and

WHEREAS, IASA presently feels the NCLB is rhetoric, not reform; and

WHEREAS, the IASA feels that the interpretation of this legislation is setting school districts up for failure.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Illinois Association of School
Administrators, as follows:

• IASA strongly asserts that special education and LEP students should not be a subgroup under the Adequate Yearly Progress (“AYP”) provision of NCLB. Children with disabilities should continue to have their assessment plans and their education plans dictated by their IEP. LEP students should be assessed within their appropriate programs. Achievement progress should continue to be shown in both groups within individual districts and states.
• The IASA strongly asserts that there should be extensive research conducted as to what is a good benchmark for student progress. For example, all researchers know that 100% of students reaching state standards is not an achievable goal. Research should take place as to what is an achievable goal.
• School choice provisions should not be implemented unless there are sufficient dollars to back the transfer of the students and a three-year period be given to the receiving school to increase the achievement level of the transferring student before that transfer student’s scores are calculated for AYP.
• This legislation should not be implemented unless it is fully funded.
• The IASA strongly asserts that federal legislators need to modify this legislation and monitor the U.S. Department of Education. The IASA will continue to support higher test scores, schools being held accountable, students being taught by highly qualified teachers, the increase of attendance rates, the increase of high school graduation rates, and students being taught in a safe environment.
• The IASA goes on record as supporting any legislator who initially supported and voted for the NCLB, but also as saying we will not support any candidate or present legislator that backs NCLB as it is presently being interpreted. IASA will ask its membership to support candidates who back the full funding of NCLB and fair rules for NCLB.
• Therefore, the IASA should work with AASA and other coalitions to urge Congress and the Illinois General Assembly to amend the No Child Left Behind Act.

This ________ day of ______________ 2003.

Dr. Donald E. Weber, President
Illinois Association of School Administrators