style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'>EDUCATION

LEGISLATION

ASPIRA POLICY

POSITION

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>No Child Left
Behind (NCLB)

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Public Law No: 107-110
(January 8, 2002)

Title: To close the achievement gap with
accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left behind.

The No Child Left Behind Act purpose is to improve student
achievement by setting a goal of full grade-level proficiency in reading and
mathematics by 2014. It also aims to close the achievement gap.

    ASPIRA’s
concerns include:

1.  style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>standardized tests
may not be properly monitored to ensure that they reflect the standards;

2.  style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>assessment results
should be used for improvement and not to penalize schools/students;

3.  style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ELL Students should
take the same tests as all other students take in school regardless of
proficiency to assess their progress and that of the school in serving
this population;

4.  style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>assessments should
measure the progress of students year over year. They should not be used to
compare different cohorts to determine AYP.

5.  style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>underfunding for
NCLB imposes a higher bar for students and schools to reach without the means
to achieve at high levels. Lack of resources, such as highly prepared and experienced
teachers and educational resources, means schools that Latino children attend
are often ranked as “failing” and hence will lose further funding.