Education Commission of the States

Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 1200 • Denver, CO 80203-3460 • 303.299.3600 • Fax: 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

Education Commission of the States (ECS)
Summary of Recommendations
NCLB Reauthorization

To better inform the national debate on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization, ECS collected and synthesized recommendations by national organizations to improve the federal law.

ECS' database is organized around 16 issue areas that captured most recommendations. Some organizations did not offer recommendations for all issues, at least according to our analysis. And several recommendations appear more than once since they applied to multiple issue areas.

The summary of the Education Commission of the States' (ECS) original recommendations are listed in this report. Please see the main database page for additional reports.

Highlights
Issues addressed: 12 of 16
Adequate Yearly Progress; Assessment, Standards and Curriculum; Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development; Consequences and Interventions; Data Systems and Reporting; English Language Learners; Finance; Safe Schools; Students with Disabilities; Supplemental Education Services; Teaching Quality; and Miscellaneous/Overarching.

Issues not addressed: 4 of 16
Early Childhood; High Schools; Other Programs; and School Leadership.

Areas of emphasis:
Adequate Yearly Progress; Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development; and Teaching Quality.

Source:
ECS Report to the Nation: State Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act (July 2004)

Visit ECS' Database on NCLB Reauthorization main page for more information, explanations and access to organizations' original reports. Please note that ECS plans to expand the database as more information becomes available.

Database Last Updated: July 2007

This database was created and compiled by Mary Fulton, ECS policy analyst.
For questions and comments: 303.299.3679 or mfulton@ecs.org

NCLB Reauthorization : Education Commission of the States (ECS)

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

AYP 1 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure NCLB focuses on the performance growth of all -- not just low-performing -- students.

AYP 2 - Summary of Recommendation Reassess AYP to ensure it measures school and district effects on student progress over time.

AYP 3 - Summary of Recommendation Maintain goal of 100% proficiency by 2013-14 and ensure states support this objective, despite number of schools in improvement.

AYP 4 - Summary of Recommendation Initiate independent AYP assessment to determine meaningful definition and measurement of student growth.

AYP 5 - Summary of Recommendation Expand AYP exemptions in rural states regarding alternative assessments for students with disabilities.

Assessment, Standards and Curriculum (ASC)

ASC 1 - Summary of Recommendation Allow greater variation in testing options, such as value-added, that are valid and tied to state standards.

Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)

CIRD 1 - Summary of Recommendation
Build state and district capacity to assist low performing schools.

CIRD 2 - Summary of Recommendation Provide incentives for states to serve as R&D laboratories to broaden and deepen NCLB's impact.

Consequences and Interventions (CI)

CI 1 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure eligible students have access to supplemental services, interventions and safe schools as soon as possible.

CI 2 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure low-performing school interventions are scientifically-research based.

CI 3 - Summary of Recommendation Provide incentives for non-Title I school improvement interventions.

Data Systems and Reporting (DSR)

DSR 1 - Summary of Recommendation Push for greater transparency in and comparability among federal and state data sets.

DSR 2 - Summary of Recommendation Require states to provide accurate and accessible teacher quality data.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

ECE 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

English Language Learners (ELL)

ELL 1 - Summary of Recommendation Allow more time and make accommodations for immigrant students to undergo acculturation to American society.

Funding Issues (FI)

FI 1 - Summary of Recommendation Meet federal NCLB funding obligations once accurate costs are determined.

FI 2 - Summary of Recommendation Identify NCLB requirements delayed due to costs and respond accordingly.

High Schools (HS)

HS 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Other Programs (OP)

OP 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Safe Schools (SS)

SS 1 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure eligible students have access to supplemental services, interventions and safe schools as soon as possible.

SS 2 - Summary of Recommendation Insist states review and create meaningful “persistently dangerous” school definitions.

School Leadership (SL)

SL 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Students with Disabilities (SWD)

SWD 1 - Summary of Recommendation Reconcile differences between NCLB and IDEA.

SWD 2 - Summary of Recommendation Accommodate for different achievement rates and levels of some students with disabilities.

Supplemental Education Services (SES)

SES 1 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure eligible students have access to supplemental services, interventions and safe schools as soon as possible.

Teaching Quality (TQ)

TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation
Ensure states' HOUSSE plans meet letter and spirit of NCLB and set rigorous teacher quality requirements.

TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Provide clear, consistent and timely guidance regarding highly qualified teachers provisions.

TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Require states to provide accurate and accessible teacher quality data.

Miscellaneous/Overarching (Misc.)

Misc. 1 - Summary of Recommendation Embrace NCLB as a civil rights issue and commit to an unprecedented opportunity to raise expectations and narrow achievement gaps.

Misc. 2 - Summary of Recommendation Do not retreat on NCLB's promises or possibilities, provide flexibility for states to meet goals and give credit for progress.

© 2008 by the Education Commission of the States (ECS). All rights reserved. ECS is a nonprofit interstate compact that helps state leaders shape education policy.

To request permission to excerpt part of this publication, either in print or electronically, please fax a request to the attention of the ECS Communications Department, 303.296.8332 or e-mail ecs@ecs.org.

Helping State Leaders Shape Education Policy

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
AYP 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure NCLB focuses on the performance growth of all -- not just low-performing -- students.
AYP 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Reassess AYP to ensure it measures school and district effects on student progress over time.
AYP 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Maintain goal of 100% proficiency by 2013-14 and ensure states support this objective, despite number of schools in improvement.
AYP 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Initiate independent AYP assessment to determine meaningful definition and measurement of student growth.
AYP 5 - Summary of Recommendation	Expand AYP exemptions in rural states regarding alternative assessments for students with disabilities.
Assessment, Standards and Curriculum (ASC)
ASC 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow greater variation in testing options, such as value-added, that are valid and tied to state standards.
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
CIRD 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Build state and district capacity to assist low performing schools.
CIRD 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Provide incentives for states to serve as R&D laboratories to broaden and deepen NCLB's impact.
Consequences and Interventions (CI)
CI 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure eligible students have access to supplemental services, interventions and safe schools as soon as possible.
CI 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure low-performing school interventions are scientifically-research based.
CI 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Provide incentives for non-Title I school improvement interventions.
Data Systems and Reporting (DSR)
DSR 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Push for greater transparency in and comparability among federal and state data sets.
DSR 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Require states to provide accurate and accessible teacher quality data.
Early Childhood Education (ECE)
ECE 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
English Language Learners (ELL)
ELL 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow more time and make accommodations for immigrant students to undergo acculturation to American society.
Funding Issues (FI)
FI 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Meet federal NCLB funding obligations once accurate costs are determined.
FI 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Identify NCLB requirements delayed due to costs and respond accordingly.
High Schools (HS)
HS 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Other Programs (OP)
OP 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Safe Schools (SS)
SS 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure eligible students have access to supplemental services, interventions and safe schools as soon as possible.
SS 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Insist states review and create meaningful “persistently dangerous” school definitions.
School Leadership (SL)
SL 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Students with Disabilities (SWD)
SWD 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Reconcile differences between NCLB and IDEA.
SWD 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Accommodate for different achievement rates and levels of some students with disabilities.
Supplemental Education Services (SES)
SES 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure eligible students have access to supplemental services, interventions and safe schools as soon as possible.
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Ensure states' HOUSSE plans meet letter and spirit of NCLB and set rigorous teacher quality requirements.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Provide clear, consistent and timely guidance regarding highly qualified teachers provisions.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Require states to provide accurate and accessible teacher quality data.
Miscellaneous/Overarching (Misc.)
Misc. 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Embrace NCLB as a civil rights issue and commit to an unprecedented opportunity to raise expectations and narrow achievement gaps.
Misc. 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Do not retreat on NCLB's promises or possibilities, provide flexibility for states to meet goals and give credit for progress.