The Choice Channel

“Public school administrators across America are finding themselves in a difficult, and unaccustomed position of having to explain to concerned parents why their school is listed as failing, according to the new federal standards implemented in the ‘No Child Left Behind Act of 2001′. This Act attempts to implement some flexibility in state standards in order make them less rigid in their requirements, so that failing schools are able to creatively arrive at solutions unhindered by unnecessary regulation. In some state courts, however, there are moves to block a key aspect of the Act—the portion that requires failed schools to provide tuition monies for students who wish to attend a better school. At this juncture in the implementation of the Act, there is a general sense that the Education Department is not given enough policy guidance in the enforcement of the Act’s requirements.” (08/14/02)