The National Education Association has consistently expressed support for NCLB's goals -- raising student achievement, closing achievement gaps, and providing every child with a qualified teacher -- that are perfectly in sync with our own belief that great public schools are a basic right for every child. But our members are adamant that the law must be fundamentally improved and that the President and the Congress must provide the needed funding if NCLB is to achieve its goals.

Our comprehensive "Positive Agenda for the ESEA Reauthorization," which offers detailed recommendations to improve the law, was developed with input from thousands of our members who have lived with the negative consequences of this flawed legislation. The Positive Agenda is a call to action to provide educators with the tools and resources they need to do the important job of preparing our students to live productive and successful lives.

With NCLB nearing expiration and Congress poised to begin the reauthorization process, NEA wants to offer policymakers at all levels an inside look at the effect NCLB is having on our nation's schools and classrooms. "Voices from America's Classrooms," offers hundreds of observations and stories from educators who have been impacted by this law. The bottom line: NCLB/ESEA is presenting real obstacles to the original purpose of the law.

During the upcoming reauthorization, we have the chance to make NCLB/ESEA more responsive to the real needs of students and education employees. NEA looks forward to working with the Congress to do just that.

Sincerely,
Reg Weaver, President
National Education Association