Making Sure History is Not Left Behind
Update on the Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind
Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind
Postponed by Congress until Future Session
After months of Congressional hearings, public debate, citizen input, and diligent work by the U.S. Senate and House education committees, it was announced in early November, 2007, that a revised version of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 would not be introduced until the 2008 session.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was scheduled to be reauthorized in 2007 during the 110th Congressional session.
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of the HELP Committee, stated that there was not enough time in the 2007 session to complete work on all aspects of the legislation. Senator Kennedy noted, through a representative, that he's committed to "putting together a responsible reauthorization package early in 2008."
However, some say that it may be difficult in the coming year for Congress to achieve the bipartisan support needed to pass legislation of the magnitude and controversy of No Child Left Behind since 2008 is a presidential election year.
Congressman George Miller (D-CA), who serves as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, also stated in early November that it is not likely that a bill to revise NCLB will get to the House floor before 2008. Congressman Miller announced, through a representative, that "We continue to work hard on the bill. Discussions with Republicans and education organizations continue."
For more information about the tabling of the NCLB reauthorization, click here to read November 6, 2007 New York Times article by Sam Dillon on this subject or click here to read November 2, 2007 Associated Press article.
Click here to read the December 23, 2007 New York Times article by Sam Dillon, which focuses on No Child Left Behind as an issue in the 2008 presidential campaign and the challenges lawmakers face in reauthorizing NCLB.
Chairman Miller and Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), who serves as Senior Republican of the House Committee on Education and Labor, along with Congressmen Dale Kildee (D-MI) and Michael Castle (R-DE), who serve as Chairman and Senior Republican of the Sub-Committee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, released in late August and early September, 2007, a bipartisan Discussion Draft of the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind.
Click on the following links to read Miller/McKeon Discussion Draft for Title I, Summary of the Title I Discussion Draft, Text for Title II Discussion Draft, and Text for Title III-XI discussion draft. You may also wish to read or view the testimony given at the September 10, 2007 full committee hearing of the House on the "Miller McKeon Discussion Draft of ESEA Reauthorization."
To find out more about the actions taken and encouraged by the National Council for History Education with regard to NCLB and in response to the history-related aspects of the Miller/McKeon Discussion Draft, please go to NCHE Action.
We will provide additional updates on the debate in Congress in connection with the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind as it is available.
No
Child Left Behind was signed into law on January 8, 2002.
The act reauthorized and amended federal education
programs established under the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(ESEA). NCLB
expired September 30, 2007 but the law is automatically
extended in its current form until a reauthorization is
passed or other legislative action with regard to the
bill is taken.