When the Minnesota legislature reconvenes next month, state senators will debate whether the state should refuse to follow mandates under the No Child Left Behind Act鈥攑otentially forfeiting up to $250 million in annual federal funding.
鈥淚 believe in local control of schools,鈥� said Sen. Geoff Michel, who represents Senate Republicans on the issue. He said the NCLB law 鈥渉as grown the federal role in schools, in education, and in teaching, and I think that鈥檚 dangerous.鈥�
Breaking with NCLB is an option the legislature has considered in the past, but never actually done. Sen. Michel believes the initiative could gain support this time because 鈥渢here鈥檚 more interest now, [and] there鈥檚 more frustration now.鈥� The issue is also timely, he said, since the 6-year-old law is up for reauthorization by Congress.
Supporters of such a move could be heartened by a decision last week by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit that revived a federal lawsuit in which school districts in three states鈥攏ot including Minnesota鈥攁re challenging obligations for spending under the law. (鈥淐ourt Ruling in NCLB Suit Fuels Fight Over Costs,鈥� Jan. 16, 2008.)
Although the latest push in Minnesota is spearheaded by Senate Republicans鈥攊t remains to be seen if any in the House of Representatives will sign on as well鈥擲en. Michel believes it has bipartisan support in his chamber.
But Sen. Charles W. Wiger, a Democrat and the chairman of the Senate education committee, said his stance on the bill is that 鈥淐ongress should mend it, not end it.鈥� He is especially concerned about the prospect of forfeiting federal aid.
鈥淎t a time when school budgets are stretched to the limit, 鈥� we can鈥檛 afford that loss of funding,鈥� he said.
In Sen. Michel鈥檚 view, however, even if the state were to lose federal aid, it might be better off if it does not have to comply with the law鈥檚 requirements, which include annual testing and other accountability provisions.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 also a really strong statement from us that we鈥檇 rather have the discretion and flexibility than the money,鈥� said Sen. Michel. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to be held hostage by the federal government any longer when it comes to educating our kids.鈥�
