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REPRESENTATIVE BOB MILLER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2012
Rep. Bob Miller Comments on Granting of Partial NCLB Waiver Decision is “An encouraging step in Alaskans maintaining local control of our schools”
Today, Representative Bob Miller (D-Fairbanks) released the following statement in reaction to the federal government granting Alaska a partial waiver from the increasingly unrealistic requirements of No Child Left Behind.
“Alaskans across the state have argued for years that the one-size-fits-all requirements in No Child Left Behind simply do not work for Alaska. The state’s efforts to set its own standards and take the opportunity to opt out of No Child Left Behind are working, and the federal government’s decision to grant the first part of our request is an encouraging step in Alaska’s efforts to maintain local control of our schools and our children’s education. I’m always looking for way to build consensus, and it’s been great to see the collaboration and hard work on this issue by school districts, individual educators, the Department of Education and members of the Legislature is starting to pay off.”
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development announced today that the U.S. Department of Education will allow the state to use proficiency targets from the 2010-2011 school year to calculate whether Alaska schools and districts in school year 2011-2012 made adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind. By not moving the goalposts on Alaska schools to even more unworkable targets, more schools and districts will make adequate yearly progress requirements and avoid losing federal resources or going under increased federal control.
The state is preparing its application for a comprehensive waiver in which Alaska would implement its own system of accountability for schools and districts, subject to some federal requirements. That application is due September 6.
Rep. Miller introduced legislation (HJR 39) this year to encourage the state to opt out of No Child Left Behind. ###
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