Don’t dumb down NCLB Act

President Obama has directed Secretary Arne Duncan, of the U.S. Department of Education, to grant flexibility in achieving the 2014 deadline for meeting the standards required by No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)—the former Elementary and Secondary School Act.

Quoting from the first document cited below “While all states will be eligible for this regulatory flexibility, only states that agree to meet a high bar will receive the flexibility they need to improve education on the ground for students. States granted flexibility would be expected to maintain rigorous accountability, including for subgroups of students.”

Posted by Becky on 08/29/11  •  Permalink  •  Comments 1   •  

Obama Foodorama: From Policy to Pie

Agriculture Secretary says record level of SNAP benefit usage creates jobs, gives US economy multi-billion dollar monthly boost…

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stayed on President Obama’s rural jobs message during an interview from Dubuque, Iowa, saying that SNAP benefits, also known as Food Stamps, are good for US employment rates. Food Stamp usage has gone up for thirty straight months, and USDA recorded the highest level of use in its history in May, with close to 46 million people—or 1 in 7 citizens—using the program. Food Stamps, Vilsack told MSNBC’s Morning Joe, should be regarded as “an economic stimulus” that creates and saves jobs. (To the right: Vilsack speaking today at the President’s Rural Economic Forum in Peosta, Iowa)

Posted by Sue Kirby on 08/22/11  •  Permalink  •  Comments 0   •  

Federal Gov. builds us up & Lets us down

Those of us working for Promise the Children are pleased that disabled children must receive an adequate education because of the federal mandates in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Act). But the Federal Government has let us down. Congress has never voted adequate funding for the Act mandating education of those with disabilities, the IDEA Act

Posted by Becky on 08/22/11  •  Permalink  •  Comments 0   •