On behalf of the Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA), representing business leaders from every sector of the economy and whose membership is listed below, we strongly urge you to oppose any legislative proposals, including those that may come up through the appropriations process, that would weaken accountability for improving student achievement under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

 

BCSA believes that NCLB can be improved in ways that enhance the ability of schools to serve students, but that any proposals should be carefully examined through the usual committee consideration process. Specifically, BCSA believes that any proposal that would suspend the NCLB requirements to identify schools in need of improvement raises many serious concerns and deserves a thorough debate in its development. Such a suspension proposal would result in removing from students, teachers, schools, and parents additional resources and assistance devoted to ensuring improved academic achievement for those students and schools most in need. These resources that would be removed include additional school improvement funds for local schools and extra technical assistance for teachers in their efforts to boost student achievement.

 

The BCSA believes that improving the performance of the K-12 education system in the United States is essential for ensuring the American education system prepares our youth to succeed and our nation to be competitive in our rapidly changing world. BCSA supports exploring these improvements through a process that allows for a thorough and deliberate examination of how best to support our students, teachers, and schools in their improvement efforts. The traditional process allowing for guidance from the authorizing committees, who have developed policy expertise, will allow for careful examination of the various school improvement and reform proposals, and should be followed.

 

BCSA stands firm in its support for the key principles of NCLB. This law has been instrumental in focusing our nation, through information reported to parents and the public, on improving the academic achievement of all students and closing the achievement gap. The business community understands the importance of a high quality education for all students, and BSCA will continue to call for strong accountability for improved achievement.

 

Sincerely,

 

Arthur J. Rothkopf

Senior Vice-President and Counselor to the President

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

 

Susan Traiman

Director, Education and Workforce Policy

Business Roundtable