« Calling all Democrats with backbone | Main | Cartoon: State of the surge »

2007.08.29

Brownback: Overhaul No Child Left Behind

We see this happen each presidential election cycle.  Washington insiders journey out onto the campaign trail in places like Iowa and New Hampshire, and are forced to justify in layman's terms why failed policies ought to be continued.  And in the short-term, many of the candidates suddenly develop a hidden populist streak.

Sam Brownback is becoming the latest victim in this populist mayhem.  He is proposing to completely overhaul No Child Left Behind:

The Kansas senator, who voted for the measure in 2001, said itsdifficulties stem largely from provisions that force local schools tospend money on certain things while other problems go unfixed.Brownback mentioned the plan during an educational forum at theUniversity of Northern Iowa, where he fielded questions about collegeaffordability, high school standards and the nation's scientific braindrain.

"Where it failed was not giving flexibility to thestates," Brownback told a crowd of 120 at the Gallagher-BluedornPerforming Arts Center.

Maybe he is onto something.  The law is an unfunded mandate that takes a toll on state budgets.  Those state are either forced to cut other programs, or underfund this one.  Over the last five years, No Child Left Behind has been underfunded by $40 billion.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/488060/21177705

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Brownback: Overhaul No Child Left Behind:

Comments

Post a comment

If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In

Recent Comments

Stats

Legal

  • All literature taken off this page and reprinted must be properly quoted and linked.
  • Copyright 2008: Todd Haskins, The Blue State www.thebluestate.com thebluestate.typepad.com

Blue Ads

Blogad Network