An Update on Reauthorization
Many issues are involved with the reauthorization of the Elementary Education Act (Formerly NCLB). Remember, the reauthorization was to occur in 2007. We currently have the Obama Blueprint and hearings being held by the House and Senate Education Committees. It took longer than expected for the Health Bill to pass, and with immigration and the economy seemingly in the forefront, it is difficult to determine when the reauthorization of ESEA will be the priority. Add an election year to the immigration and the economy, and it is doubtful that ESEA will be completed by the end of the year. President Obama has added an incentive that may be a first for the reauthorization of ESEA. He would add an extra one billion dollars to education spending if Congress renewed the law this year.
Although bipartisan effort is promoted, the current law has become complex, and the additional use of regulations and policy by the current administration to promote its goals have created major divisions between the parties. Add to this division the possibility of a proposed formula change, and we are well into 2011.