Four of the eight candidates participating in Thursday’s debate serve on key congressional committees that will soon be debating the reauthorization of the controversial federal education law.

“The No Child Left Behind law sets state and local mandates without federal funding, ignores the professional judgment of those in the classroom, and does nothing to guarantee every child’s basic right to a great public school,” says Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association. “After five years, it’s clear that No Child Left Behind is a slogan and not a solution when it comes to improving our nation’s public schools. Parents and educators all over the country want to know how potential future presidents will approach making the law more responsive to the real needs of students.”

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators
and students preparing to become teachers.