I'm Always Optimistic; But Not For a 'No Child Left Behind' Update

As everyone involved with education policy knows, our education law, now in the form of No Child Left Behind, expired in 2007.  Its programs will continue as long as Congress keeps providing the money.

Much in education has changed since 2001 when NCLB was enacted.  Technology in classrooms today wasn't even invented back then.  Learning and teaching methods have improved.

Unfortunately, Members of Congress -- of all political persuasions -- have talked, but haven't acted.

I was optimistic several weeks ago when I heard about legislation actually being written in both the Senate and the House.

But then I saw the bills.  And then I heard the speeches and comments at the Committee hearings.

Our two political parties have grown further apart in the last six or eight years or so.  Ideological purity is demanded by vocal interest groups.  Compromise has become a dirty word.

The partisan discourse is so bad now, that some even are saying that the common standards developed by the states are a federal plot to control what is taught!

Just to be clear, let's look at two facts:

Fact #1: The common standards being implemented by the states were developed by the National Governors' Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.  (See the theme here? States.)

Fact #2: Math is the same in Columbia, MO, Columbia, MD, and Columbia, SC.  (Why should students in some states know less than students in other states?  Math is math wherever you are.)

So now, because of partisanship and the inability of policymakers to reach across the aisle, our kids suffer.

Our kids are missing out on the new adaptive technology that facilitates individualized instruction so they can move forward in areas they have mastered and get help where they need it. 

Our kids are missing out on new interactive materials and teaching methods.

Instead, they are stuck in a one-size-fits-all classroom, based primarily on their age, gearing up for a fill-in-the-bubble test at the end of the year.

Our students deserve better.

When they complete their secondary education -- whether in Columbia, MO, Columbia, MD or Columbia, SC -- they will be competing with students from all over the world, many of whom will have been using the latest technology and adapting as the education world changes.

We can do better as a nation.

I'm always optimistic.  But I must confess it's getting kinda tough when we're talking about updating our education law to promote student success.

The U.S. Department of Education got tired of waiting for Congress and began giving states money and flexibility in return for adopting preferred policies.  But they can go only so far -- and their program has ruffled some feathers on Capitol Hill and fed into the conspiracy theories.

What's the best way forward for our students?

Partisanship Preventing Progress on ESEA Re-Write

Three weeks ago I noted we were hearing positive signs from Capitol Hill about re-writing and updating our nation's education law -- the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, now in the form of No Child Left Behind.

I was optimistic when Sen. Harkin introduced a bill.  As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, he is in the prefect position to pass a significant and meaningful update to the law.

Unfortunately, no Republicans signed on in support.

Instead, Republicans in both the Senate and the House introduced their own bills, which are similar to each other.

And no Democrats signed on in support.

We now have Democrats talking about their bill and Republicans talking about their bills.

Unfortunately, they aren't talking to each other.

No Child Left Behind put a system of requirements into place in 2001.  Think of all the changes in education in the past 12 years -- particularly in technology and adaptive learning systems for individualized instruction to improve student performance.

We have heard plenty of talk about the need for updating and modernizing our education system.  It's time for Congress to act.

Good News for Progress on U.S. Trade Agenda

Mike Froman, the President's nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, sailed through his Senate confirmation hearing this week.  Senators from both sides of the aisle said good things about him.

And Froman said good things about the outlook for the U.S. Trade Agenda. 

"If confirmed, I will engage with you to renew Trade Promotion Authority," Froman told the Senators, as reported by Doug Palmer in a Reuters story.  "TPA is a critical tool.  I look forward to working with you to craft a bill that achieves our shared goals."

Trade Promotion Authority is the process that provides for Congress to vote up-or-down on trade agreements with no opportunity for amendments in return for consultations with the Administration along the way during negotiations.

TPA isn't required for completing trade negotiations, but having it in place helps make sure the U.S. gets the best deal, as our counter-parties won't have to hold something back anticipating further demands from Congress.

TPA expired in 2007.  The Obama Administration didn't ask for its renewal during the first term, but now Froman is sending the right message.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has said he wants introduce a bill soon and get it passed by Congress this year.

TPA will give U.S. negotiators a useful tool for completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the new agreement with the European Union, both of which will provide significant benefits for U.S. workers, as the new agreements will open markets and we will be able to sell more U.S. products and services overseas.

Mike Froman likely will be confirmed fairly quickly as U.S. Trade Representative.  We'll certainly look forward to working with him to renew Trade Promotion Authority.