This hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions examines No Child Left Behind, focusing on innovation to better meet the needs of students. The questions addressed are: (1) What is your State, district, or school doing to implement innovative approaches to improve academic outcomes for students, particularly low-income and…

This hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions examines fixing No Child Left Behind, focusing on supporting teachers and school leaders. Following an opening statement by Honorable Lamar Alexander (Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions), the following senators provide statements: (1) Honorable Patty…

The Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95) was put in place to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves. The Act includes the following titles: (1) Improving Basic Programs Operated by State and Local Educational Agencies; (2) Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality…

President Obama and congressional leaders have vowed to take action this year on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), most recently reauthorized and rebranded as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. While most observers remain skeptical that everyone will actually see a signing ceremony in 2011, it does appear likely that at least…

This report examines the need for alternative education programs in Virginia, submits a plan and an estimate for funding, and reports findings and recommendations. The project team developed an implementation plan that identified five major objectives: (1) provide budget recommendations and estimates for Alternative Education at the state and…

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) was asked to: (1) describe major federal requirements that affect school districts; (2) identify key issues school districts face in implementing these requirements; and (3) analyze the impact of the Department of Education's flexibility initiatives on school districts' ability to address these implementation…

This testimony on charter schools is based on a report prepared at the request of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies by the General Accounting Office. Remarks focus on charter schools' instructional innovations, autonomy, accountability systems, and the challenges they pose for federal programs.…

Charter schools are public schools that are established through state law and are often released from traditional regulations that apply to public schools in return for an accountability system that emphasizes student outcomes. This hearing focused on how Federal education funds are distributed to charter schools; the academic and administrative…

Analysis of Public Law 94-142 (as amended) and of its associated regulations indicates that waivers from the law's requirements are not necessary to initiate experimental programs related to the Regular Education Initiative. Requirements concerned with eligibility, special class placement, and change of placement can be met by innovative…

Hearings before the House of Representatives served as a public forum for representatives from the District of Columbia City Council, academia, local schools including the City of Baltimore, Maryland, and the private sector to share their experiences, successes, and concerns about the education of children in urban areas. The chairman of the…

This hearing focused on education in New York, including recommendations for corrective actions to improve school governance and management in the areas of custodial services and school bus transportation. The report includes testimony from: Andrew J. Stein, President, New York City Council; Kevin Gill, Executive Director, Division of Support…

Excerpts from a study of curriculum laws and regulations and how they are perceived by teachers and administrators in the states of Texas, Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and California. (Author/MLF)

A number of Federal education reform initiatives, either enacted or under consideration by the Congress, provide schools with regulatory flexibility. In response to two Congressional committees, this study had the following objectives: (1) describe state regulatory flexibility efforts; (2) describe how schools used flexibility to attempt…

This literature review examines alternative routes to teacher certification and presents alternative certification regulations and policies for 19 states. Three categories of nontraditional personnel preparation programs are noted: nontraditional recruitment programs, retraining programs, and alternative certification programs. A definition of…

Facing limited financial resources and a need to encourage large-scale school improvements, state legislators are addressing selected educational problems through such policy approaches as funding experimental programs, designing incentives for school improvement, and encouraging parental involvement. Identified within this document are a number…