New NCLB Survey Supports
Need for Resources, Flexibility

Results of an "NCLB Educator Survey" by U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) reinforce the need for the No Child Left Behind Act to provide more resources and flexibility at the local level in order to reach the federal education law's goal of higher academic standards and increased accountability for the education of all children.

Survey findings also support NEA positions on a number of issues that educators believe federal lawmakers need to address as they tackle the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

In a letter to the more than 2,000 Coloradans who responded to the survey, Sen. Salazar said, " It is clear to me based on these findings and recommendations that Congress must reform NCLB to ensure that our educators and school districts have greater flexibility and resources to meet the unique educational needs of our youth and to promote the kind of educational achievement that truly leaves no child behind. These findings will be an essential part of the process as we work to reform NCLB so that it fulfills its promise to help educate our youth for the 21st Century and beyond."

Most of the survey's respondents are teachers, but they include administrators, school support professionals, school board members, and parents.

Highlights of the results include:

• Colorado principals, administrators, and superintendents who responded to the survey do not believe the goal of the No Child Left Behind Act, that every student in the country will be proficient in the subjects math and science by 2013-2014, is achievable.
• Colorado teachers believe student growth should be measured individually for each student, rather than the current measurement model which evaluates groups of students.

Sen. Salazar said he has shared the survey findings with Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The survey results and Sen. Salazar's letter to Sen. Kennedy are posted on the Colorado senator's Web site.

Here is the complete text of Sen. Salazar's letter to the respondents:

Dear Colorado Educator:

Supporting educators and promoting educational opportunities that enable our youth to achieve the American dream are among my top priorities.

As you know, in anticipation of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in the 110th Congress, I invited teachers, school administrators and educators from across Colorado to share with me their experiences, observations and suggestions for any changes to the Act. I am grateful for your participation and assistance. I am pleased to report that more than 2,000 Coloradans responded to the survey, providing me with valuable insight and information about how current federal educational policies affect our youth and educators in the classrooms throughout Colorado's school districts. I have attached a link to my website where I have posted the survey findings, as well as a letter that I have sent about the survey to Senator Kennedy, who chairs the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (NCLB Survey Findings). It is clear to me based on these findings and recommendations that Congress must reform NCLB to ensure that our educators and school districts have greater flexibility and resources to meet the unique educational needs of our youth and to promote the kind of educational achievement that truly leaves no child behind. These findings will be an essential part of the process as we work to reform NCLB so that it fulfills its promise to help educate our youth for the 21st Century and beyond. As we work toward these goals, I value your continued advice and suggestions.

Thank you again for participating in the survey.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar

January 2007