issues2000

Topics in the News: NCLB


Donald Trump on NCLB: (Principles & Values Jul 11, 2021)
We will make America great again; it's very simple

With the help of everyone here today, we will defeat the radical left, the socialists, Marxists, and the critical race theorists. Whoever thought would be even using that term. We will secure our borders. We will stop left wing cancel culture. We will restore free speech and fair elections, and we will make America great again. It's very simple. Very simple.

[Regarding Attorney General William Barr], I always liked him. But I said, "Bill, you got to move your ass. Our country is under attack." But he became a different man when the Democrats viciously stated that they wanted to impeach him. They went wild. "We want to impeach him. We're going to impeach Bill Barr. We're going to impeach him." He became different. I understand that. I didn't become different. I got impeached twice. I didn't change. I became worse.

Click for Donald Trump on other issues.   Source: Speech transcript from 2021 CPAC Conference

Bernie Sanders on NCLB: (Civil Rights Feb 26, 2020)
End all forms of racial & sex discrimination in this country

Q: Confederate symbols are controversial right now. How should we deal with the Confederate flag and Confederate monuments? And how do we improve race relations?

SANDERS: You know, a lot about Donald Trump sickens me, but maybe at the top of the list is his very intentional effort to try to divide us up based on the color of our skin or where we were born or our religion or our sexual orientation, even our gender. As you know, before Trump became president, he was a leader of the so-called Birther movement. Remember that? This was a disgusting effort to try to delegitimize the first African-American president in the history of our country, Barack Obama. And clearly one of the main priorities of a Sanders administration is to do everything humanly possible to end racism in America, to end sexism in America, to end homophobia in America. As Dr. Martin Luther King reminded us, we judge people based on their character. And that is the goal of my administration.

Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.   Source: CNN S. C. Town Hall for 2020 Presidential primary

Gavin Newsom on NCLB: (Welfare & Poverty Feb 19, 2020)
Homelessness must be at the top of our agenda

The most pernicious crisis in our midst is the ultimate manifestation of poverty: homelessness. It is a disgrace. It is our responsibility, and it must be at the top of our agenda.

We are making available 286 state properties--vacant lots, fairgrounds, armories and other state buildings--to be used by local governments, for free, for homelessness solutions. We have lease templates ready to go--and we're ready for partnership.

When we don't build housing for people at all income levels, we worsen the homeless crisis. It's a vicious cycle. And the only sustainable way out of it is to massively increase housing production. Let's match our courage on homelessness with courage on housing supply. This means a commitment--right now, this year--to major reform that will eliminate red tape, and delays for building critically needed housing--like affordable, multifamily homes--especially near transit and downtowns.

Click for Gavin Newsom on other issues.   Source: 2020 California State of the State address

Mike Bloomberg on NCLB: (Crime Nov 17, 2019)
I was wrong to rely on stop-and-frisk policing

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg apologized for his administration's controversial reliance on stop-and-frisk policing in a speech at a Brooklyn church Sunday morning, saying, "I was wrong and I am sorry."

The stunning reversal comes as Bloomberg is expected to jump into the 2020 presidential race. "I got something important wrong. I got something really important wrong--stops on the black and Latino community," a contrite Bloomberg said as he addressed congregants at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York, one of the city's largest black churches. "I want you to know I realize back then I was wrong," he added. "And I am sorry."

Stop-and-frisk is one of the most controversial legacies of Bloomberg's twelve years in City Hall--struck down by a federal judge for its disproportionate effect on minority communities, but one Bloomberg continued to cling tightly to for years as he claimed credit of the city's sinking crime rates.

Click for Mike Bloomberg on other issues.   Source: New York Post on 2020 Democratic primary

Andrew Yang on NCLB: (Technology Apr 2, 2019)
Culture wars are proxy for automation-shattered economy

If there is a revolution, it is likely to be born of race and identity with automation-driven economics as the underlying force. A highly disproportionate amount of people at the top will be educated whites, Jews, and Asians. America is projected to become a majority minority by 2045. African Americans and Latinos will almost certainly make up a disproportionate number of the less privileged in the wake of automation. Racial inequality will become all the more jarring as the new majority remains on the outside. Gender inequality, too, will become more stark, with women comprising the clear majority of college graduates yet still underrepresented in many environments. Less privileged whites may be more likely to blame people of color, immigrants, or shifting cultural norms for their diminishing stature and shattered communities than they will automation and the capitalist system. Culture wars will be proxy wars for the economic backdrop. This is already happening.
Click for Andrew Yang on other issues.   Source: The War on Normal People, by Andrew Yang, p.156

Andrew Yang on NCLB: (Technology Apr 2, 2019)
Culture wars are proxy for automation-shattered economy

If there is a revolution, it is likely to be born of race and identity with automation-driven economics as the underlying force. A highly disproportionate amount of people at the top will be educated whites, Jews, and Asians. America is projected to become a majority minority by 2045. African Americans and Latinos will almost certainly make up a disproportionate number of the less privileged in the wake of automation, as they currently enjoy lower levels of wealth and education. Racial inequality will become all the more jarring as the new majority remains on the outside. Gender inequality, too, will become more stark, with women underrepresented in many environments. Less privileged whites may be more likely to blame people of color, immigrants, or shifting cultural norms for their diminishing stature and shattered communities than they will automation and the capitalist system. Culture wars will be proxy wars for the economic backdrop. This is already happening.
Click for Andrew Yang on other issues.   Source: The War on Normal People, by Andrew Yang, p.156

Arvin Vohra on NCLB: (Education Dec 12, 2017)
Stop the one-size-fits-none education programs

When we defund the Department of Education, we put a stop to One-Size-Fits-None programs like Common Core and No Child Left Behind, and we replace those blunders with parental choice programs that can actually work. You, the one person who cares the most about your child's education, will find much better programs than any third party could. Now we have a populace educated by parents who care, instead of by politicians who want to get reelected and make political decisions.
Click for Arvin Vohra on other issues.   Source: 2018 Maryland Senate campaign website VoteVohra.com

Ted Cruz on NCLB: (Education Mar 10, 2016)
Race-to-the-Top is blackmail against the states

Common Core is a disaster. And if I am elected president, in the first days, I will direct the Department of Education that Common Core ends that day.

The Obama administration has abused executive power in forcing common core on the states. It has used race-to-the-top funds to effectively blackmail and force the states to adopt Common Core. Now, the one silver lining of Obama abusing executive power is that everything done with executive power can be undone with executive power, and I intend to do that.

Beyond that, I intend to work to abolish the federal Department of Education and send education back to the states and back to the local governments.

And let me say finally, the most important reform we can do in education after getting the federal government out of it, is expand school choice; expand charter schools and home schools and private schools and vouchers, and scholarships. And give every child in need an opportunity to access to a quality education.

Click for Ted Cruz on other issues.   Source: 2016 GOP primary debate in Miami

Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Jan 20, 2016)
Universal Pre-K and computer science classes on horizon

Real opportunity requires every American to get the education and training they need to land a good-paying job. The bipartisan reform of No Child Left Behind was an important start, we've increased early childhood education, lifted high school graduation rates to new highs, boosted graduates in fields like engineering. In the coming years, we should be providing Pre-K for all and offering every student the hands-on computer science and math classes that make them job-ready on day one.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: 2016 State of the Union address to Congress

Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Dec 10, 2015)
Fix No-Child-Left-Behind with Every-Student-Succeeds-Act

President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bipartisan fix to the much-criticized No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The ESEA bill gives states more power over what to do with failing schools. Federally required testing is no longer tied to any federal consequences.

Rep. Bernie Sanders voted in favor of the initial NCLB bill in May 2001, but voted against the final version in December 2001. Sen. Hillary Clinton voted in favor of both the initial NCLB bill and the final bill.

On the new ESEA bill, Sanders voted for the initial bill in the Senate education committee; then voted in favor on the Senate floor and in favor of the conference committee version. Hillary Clinton announced her support for the Every Student Succeeds Act, which is widely considered a fix to No Child Left Behind's worst flaws.

Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: Washington Examiner on 2016 presidential hopefuls

Bernie Sanders on NCLB: (Education Dec 10, 2015)
Fix No-Child-Left-Behind with Every-Student-Succeeds-Act

President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bipartisan fix to the much-criticized No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The ESEA bill gives states more power over what to do with failing schools. Federally required testing is no longer tied to any federal consequences.

Rep. Bernie Sanders voted in favor of the initial NCLB bill in May 2001, but voted against the final version in December 2001. Sen. Hillary Clinton voted in favor of both the initial NCLB bill and the final bill.

On the new ESEA bill, Sanders voted for the initial bill in the Senate education committee; then voted in favor on the Senate floor and in favor of the conference committee version. Hillary Clinton announced her support for the Every Student Succeeds Act, which is widely considered a fix to No Child Left Behind's worst flaws.

Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.   Source: Washington Examiner on 2020 presidential hopefuls

Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Sep 8, 2015)
$4.3B to induce states to expand charter schools

The idea of the NewSchools Venture Fund was to help people analyze what's not working and inspire entrepreneurs to solve problems. They became known as "venture philanthropists" and called themselves investors rather than donors, seeking returns in the form of sweeping changes to public schooling. President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan incorporated many of these goals into Race to the Top, a $4.3 billion initiative that induced states to expand charter schools and to tie teachers' evaluations, pay, and job security to growth in their students' standardized test scores. The stated goal was to put single-minded focus on what was best for children, even at the expense of upending adult lives and livelihoods.

In the beginning, Demo

Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: The Prize: America's Schools, by Dale Russakoff, p. 9

Bernie Sanders on NCLB: (Education Sep 5, 2015)
Replace NCLB standardized testing with holistic approach

Bernie strongly opposes the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB): "I voted against NCLB in 2001, and continue to oppose the bill's reliance on high-stakes standardized testing to direct draconian interventions. In my view, NCLB ignores several important factors in a student's academic performance, specifically the impact of poverty, access to adequate health care, mental health, and nutrition. By placing so much emphasis on standardized testing, NCLB ignores many of the skills and qualities that are vitally important in our 21st century economy, like problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, in favor of test preparation that provides no benefit to students after they leave school." Instead of NCLB, Bernie has called for a more holistic method of education that gives teachers more flexibility and students more support systems: encourage an environment with task-based assignments to determine students' progress.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.   Source: 2016 grassroots campaign website FeelTheBern.org, "Issues"

Ted Cruz on NCLB: (Government Reform Mar 7, 2014)
Rein in judicial activism

Cruz's USA Today Op-ed 10 priorities which he feels the Republicans must tackled if/ when they take control of the U.S. Senate in 2015.
Click for Ted Cruz on other issues.   Source: Cruzing to the White House, by Mario Broes, p. p.169

Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Jan 28, 2014)
Race to the Top for our youngest: pre-K available to all

[Starting] 5 years ago, "Race to the Top" has helped states raise expectations and performance. Some of this change is hard. But it's worth it--and it's working. The problem is we're still not reaching enough kids, and we're not reaching them in time. That has to change.

One of the best investments we can make in a child's life is high-quality early education. Last year, I asked this Congress to help states make high-quality pre-K available to every 4-year-old. 30 states have raised pre-K funding on their own. They know we can't wait. So just as we worked with states to reform our schools, this year, we'll invest in new partnerships with states and communities across the country in a Race to the Top for our youngest children. And as Congress decides what it's going to do, I'm going to pull together a coalition of elected officials, business leaders, and philanthropists willing to help more kids access the high-quality pre-K they need.

Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: 2014 State of the Union address

Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Jun 8, 2013)
OpEd: Common Core recycled from Clintons in 1980s and 1990s

Common Core recycles a decades-old, top-down approach to education clearly laid out in a letter sent to Hillary Clinton by Marc Tucker, president of the National Center on Education and the Economy, immediately after Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential victory. Marc Tucker has and is now advising the Obama Administration's US Department of Education about how to implement the Common Core Standards and Race to the Top programs.

Marc Tucker and Hillary Clinton apparently had plans to have national standards, national tests, national curriculum, and a national database way back in the 1980's. The "Dear Hillary" letter, written on Nov. 11, 1992 by Marc Tucker, lays out a plan "to remold the entire American system." This is now the blueprint for the Common Core plan.

Tucker's ambitious plan was implemented in 1994 in the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, and the School-to-Work Act. These laws establish [using] "national standards" and "national testing" to cement national control.

Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: William Taylor Reil in Times-News (Allentown PA)

Eric Swalwell on NCLB: (Education Nov 6, 2012)
Abolish NCLB and teaching to the test

Abolish President Bush's No Child Left Behind: I will work to repeal President Bush's NCLB Act. In this changing economy, we need flexible standards that reflect regional needs. Not nationalized standards, that would expect the same of Birmingham, Alabama as Hayward, California. NCLB is hand-cuffing our teachers' ability to teach, putting a ceiling on our children's ability to learn, and unfairly labeling too many schools as "failing." The legislation must be reconsidered and rewritten, particularly in the areas of assessment and accountability.

Under the current law, teachers are required to ensure that students pass a test. Scoring poorly on a test does not mean that a student is poorly educated. Further, NCLB, prevents teachers from teaching a developing, high-performing child beyond the rigid, prescribed curriculum, i.e., at some point in an academic year, many high-performing students will hit a ceiling and will be deprived further learning.

Click for Eric Swalwell on other issues.   Source: 2012 House campaign website, swalwellforcongress.com

Beto O`Rourke on NCLB: (Education Nov 6, 2012)
More pre-school; more science teachers

    Three areas that I will make a top priority if elected to Congress:
  1. Increase access to preschool education. Decades of research has shown that students who attend preschool earn significantly higher income, attain high levels of education, and commit fewer criminal acts than their peers. We must create a pathway for all children to begin school ready to succeed.
  2. Revise the No Child Left Behind Act. The current NCLB Act warps the priorities of public schools by emphasizing only the content on multiple choice math and reading tests.
  3. Incentivize math & science teachers. The country's future growth is reliant on jobs that require a mastery of math and science. Yet, schools face a chronic shortage of qualified math and science teachers. I propose that we increase the pool of talented and qualified teachers by providing scholarships for best and brightest students who commit to becoming math and science teachers in the public schools for five years after graduating.
    Click for Beto O`Rourke on other issues.   Source: 2012 House campaign website, betoforcongress.com, "Issues"

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Oct 3, 2012)
    2 million more slots in our community colleges

    We've got to improve our education system and we've made enormous progress drawing on ideas both from Democrats and Republicans that are already starting to show gains in some of the toughest to deal with schools. We've got a program called Race to the Top that has prompted reforms in 46 states around the country, raising standards, improving how we train teachers.

    So now I want to hire another 100,000 new math and science teachers, and create 2 million more slots in our community colleges so that people can get trained for the jobs that are out there right now. And I want to make sure that we keep tuition low for our young people.

    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: First Obama-Romney 2012 Presidential debate

    Ted Cruz on NCLB: (Education Jun 6, 2012)
    Education decisions best made at local level

    The Senate Conservatives Fund has developed a questionnaire that we require candidates to complete before we consider an endorsement. A candidate's answers to these questions will reveal whether they consistently apply conservative principles to their positions on important issues.
    Click for Ted Cruz on other issues.   Source: 2012 endorsee questionnaire from Senate Conservatives Fund

    Rand Paul on NCLB: (Education Feb 10, 2012)
    No Child Left Behind is federal takeover of schools

    Sen. Rand Paul, in response to the announcement that President Barack Obama granted 10 states, including Kentucky, waivers for No Child Left Behind, released the following statement: "I applaud the President's decision to grant No Child Left Behind waivers to Kentucky and several other states," Sen. Paul said. "The implementation of this federal government takeover of our education system has hurt not helped parents, teachers, administrators, and most importantly, students.

    "This waiver decision only serves to highlight the inherent problems with the federal takeover of education, and should remind us all that the best policy would be full repeal, with education decisions going back to the local governments, school administrators and parents. I am hopeful this decision also indicated President Obama has finally realized states would like relief from the burdensome mandates placed on them by the federal government," Sen. Paul concluded.

    Click for Rand Paul on other issues.   Source: 2012 official Senate website www.paul.senate.gov

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Budget & Economy Jan 8, 2012)
    Obama economic stances compared to Romney

    Do Obama and Romney disagree on school vouchers? (Yes). Do they both like "No Child Left Behind"? (No). We cite details from Romney's books and speeches, and Obama's, so you can compare them, side-by-side, on issues like these:

    Romney vs. Obama on Economic Issues

    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: Paperback: Romney vs. Obama On The Issues

    John Hickenlooper on NCLB: (Education May 25, 2011)
    Federal funds will ensure excellence in Education in CO

    Gov. Hickenlooper applauded the U.S. Department of Education's announcement that Colorado is eligible to apply for Race to the Top funds. We have every intention of pursuing this opportunity to fund excellence in our schools. In the face of increasing global competition, educating our kids is the key to economic success. Colorado will build on our previous Race to the Top applications, forge ahead with the reform efforts we already have underway and hopefully secure this federal funding.
    Click for John Hickenlooper on other issues.   Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release #1251593245085

    Joe Biden on NCLB: (Education May 25, 2011)
    $500M for Race to the Top's Early Learning Challenges

    The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge will reward states that create comprehensive plans to transform early learning systems with better coordination, clearer learning standards, and meaningful workforce development. Secretary Duncan and Secretary Sebelius also challenged the broader innovation community--leading researchers, high-tech entrepreneurs, foundations, non-profits and others--to engage with the early learning community and to close the school readiness gap. States applying for challenge grants will be encouraged to increase access to quality early learning programs for low income and disadvantaged children, design integrated and transparent systems that align their early care and education programs, bolster training and support for the early learning workforce, create robust evaluation systems to document and share effective practices and successful programs, and help parents make informed decisions about care for their children.
    Click for Joe Biden on other issues.   Source: Press release: $500 Million for Race to the Top

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Feb 17, 2011)
    Increase school choice & accountability within NCLB

    President Barack Obama has been attempting to have the NCLB law rewritten by making accountability even tougher and making school choice more available to parents of children in failing schools. In fact, Obama and Governor Christie appear to be on the same page when it comes to education reforms such as merit pay although Obama has not gone to the same extreme as Christie in his plan to repeal state tenure laws for teachers.
    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: Teachers Under Attack!, by Mike Spina, p. 91

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Jan 26, 2011)
    FactCheck: Race to the Top has only rewarded 12 states

    Race to the Top is a $4.35 billion competitive grant program for states that seeks to encourage public schools to develop new ways to raise standards and measure achievement for both teachers and students in elementary and secondary schools. Not all states received funding. They had to compete for the money, and, in the end, 11 states and the District of Columbia were the winners in two rounds of competition. The Department of Education has requested an additional $1.35 billion to continue the program, but Congress must approve it.

    Although the majority of states did not receive funding, the Obama administration takes the position that the competition for the funding alone resulted in sweeping education changes in most states. In August, the Dept. of Education said in competing, "35 states and the District of Columbia have adopted rigorous common, college- and career-ready standards in reading and math, and 34 states have changed laws or policies to improve education."

    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: FactCheck.org on 2011 State of the Union speech

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Jan 26, 2011)
    Race to the Top: reward innovation in public schools

    When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don't meet this test. That's why instead of just pouring money into a system that's not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all 50 states, we said, "If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we'll show you the money."

    Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than 1% of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning. And these standards were developed, by the way, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout the country. And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that's more flexible and focused on what's best for our kids.

    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: 2011 State of the Union speech

    Julian Castro on NCLB: (Education Feb 17, 2010)
    Take "Race to the Top" Funds despite governor's refusal

    San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro rejected Gov. Rick Perry's rationale for refusing to apply for Race to the Top education grants, which could have been worth $700 million to the state's schools. "I would have taken the Race to the Top money if I was mayor dogcatcher, or whatever," Castro said. He shrugged off the notion that the potential windfall came with too many strings attached because, he said, "all federal money comes with strings attached."

    Castro's advice to cities and communities that want federal funding but, due to friction between the state and the federal government, might find it hard to come by it was to cut out the middle man. "You need to make a direct pitch to the administration," he said.

    Of course, another option is to change the middle man. The San Antonio mayoralty may be non-partisan, but Castro is a Democrat--and he thinks his party might have a shot in at least one statewide race this year: "With Gov. Perry," said Castro, "that's a race that will be very close."

    Click for Julian Castro on other issues.   Source: Reeve Hamilton in Texas Tribune, "Race to the Top"

    Mike Pence on NCLB: (Education Nov 1, 2008)
    Eliminate "No Child Left Behind" K-12 testing requirements

    Click for Mike Pence on other issues.   Source: Congressional Indiana 2008 Political Courage Test

    Joe Biden on NCLB: (Education Oct 2, 2008)
    No Child Left Behind was left behind

    BIDEN: I hope we’ll get back to education because I don’t know any government program that John is supporting, not early education, more money for it. The reason No Child Left Behind was left behind is the money was left behind, we didn’t fund it.

    PALIN: You mentioned education and I’m glad you did. I say, too, with education, America needs to be putting a lot more focus on that and our schools have got to be really ramped up in terms of the funding that they are deserving. Teachers needed to be paid more. I come from a house full of school teachers. We have got to increase the standards. No Child Left Behind was implemented. It’s not doing the job though. We need flexibility in No Child Left Behind. We need to put more of an emphasis on the profession of teaching. My kids as public school participants right now, it’s near and dear to my heart.

    Click for Joe Biden on other issues.   Source: 2008 Vice Presidential debate against Sarah Palin

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Jul 1, 2008)
    Make math & science policy a national priority

    Obama also has detailed plans to improve our nation's primary and secondary schools:
    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: Obamanomics, by John R. Talbott, p. 61-62

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Jun 15, 2008)
    We need real commitment to education; instead we got NCLB

    These past eight years will be remembered for misguided policies & missed opportunities. We still have no real strategy to compete in a global economy. Just think of what we could have done. We could have made a real commitment to a world-class education for our kids, but instead we passed “No Child Left Behind,” a law that--however well-intended--left the money behind and alienated teachers and principals instead of inspiring them.

    I want to take us in a new and better direction. It’s time for new policies that create the jobs & opportunities of the future--a competitiveness agenda built upon education and energy, innovation and infrastructure, fair trade and reform.

    This agenda starts with education. A highly-educated and skilled workforce will be the key not only to individual opportunity, but to the overall success of our economy as well. We cannot be satisfied until every child in America--and I mean every child--has the same chances for a good education that we want for our own children.

    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: Speech in Flint, MI, in Change We Can Believe In, p.246-7

    Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Apr 16, 2008)
    End predatory student college loan rates over 20%

    I’m a strong supporter of early childhood education and universal pre-kindergarten. I’m against No Child Left Behind as it is currently operating. And I would end it, because we can do so much better to have an education system that really focuses in on [students].
    Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Feb 2, 2008)
    Children’s First Agenda: zero to five early education

    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: Campaign booklet, “Blueprint for Change”, p. 20-23

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Dec 13, 2007)
    Get parents re-engaged in educating the children

    Oftentimes minority children are already behind when they start school. Not just talking about how great teachers are but giving them more money and more support. Changing no child left behind so that we’re not just teaching to a test and crowding out programs like art and music that are so critical. You asked earlier about sacrifices that I’ll ask from the American people. One of the things that I want to do is get parents reengaged in instilling a sense of excellence in their children. And I’ve said this all across the country when I talk to parents about education, government has to fulfill its obligations to fund education, but parents have to do their job too. We’ve got to turn off the TV set, we’ve got to put away the video game, and we have to tell our children that session not a passive activity, you have to be actively engaged in it. If we encourage that attitude and our community is enforcing it, I have no doubt we can compete with anybody in the world.
    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Democratic Debate

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Sep 13, 2007)
    We need a sense of urgency about improving education system

    Q: How would you assess the American education system, how well is it doing from K to high school?

    A: Well, I think it’s doing very well for some. But it’s not doing very well for all. So, No Child Left Behind has been false advertising. And there doesn’t seem to be a sense of urgency about improving the education system. It is a sense of urgency that we’ve got to restore if we’re going to be able to remain competitive in this new global economy. So, a couple of steps that I think we have to take. Across the board we’re going to have to recruit a generation of new teachers. We’re going to have to pay our teachers more, we going to have to give them more professional development, and we’re also going to have to work with them rather than against them to improve standards. We’ve got to improve early childhood education, because that’s the area where we can probably most effectively achieve the achievement gap that exists right now.

    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: Huffington Post Mash-Up: 2007 Democratic on-line debate

    Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Sep 13, 2007)
    We have not yet reached consensus on education reform

    Q: Has the debate so far in this campaign paid enough attention to education?

    A: I don’t think it has. In the debates that we’ve had, education is an afterthought. But when I go out and campaign all over the country, it’s really on the minds of people. And I’ve outlined a very vigorous education agenda starting with universal prekindergarten, changing No Child Left Behind, making college affordable, finding programs for training and apprenticeship for kids who don’t go to college.

    Q: Why has education not come along as fast as other societal changes?

    A: I think it’s a combination of a lot of factors. Everybody is an expert on education because we all went to school. And therefore, local control means that there are millions upon millions of opinions in America about what we should do. I don’t think we have reached a consensus that reflects the reality today. Our public school system worked so well for America for so long. We’ve got to make sure it works as well for our future.

    Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: Huffington Post Mash-Up: 2007 Democratic on-line debate

    Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Sep 13, 2007)
    AR Ed Reform taught that there is a place for testing

    Q: How do you feel about the testing mania forced upon our children by No Child Left Behind?

    A: I believe in accountability. In 1983, I led the effort in Arkansas to improve our schools, and I do think there is a place for testing. But we should not look at our children as though they are little, walking tests, and we’ve gone way overboard. So I would like to see us do assessments, but understand we need a broad, rich curriculum that honors the spark of learning in every child.

    Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: Huffington Post Mash-Up: 2007 Democratic on-line debate

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Aug 19, 2007)
    We left the money behind for No Child Left Behind

    I’ve had a lot of discussions with teachers. And they feel betrayed and frustrated by No Child Left Behind. We shouldn’t reauthorize it without changing it fundamentally. We left the money behind for No Child Left Behind, and so there are school districts all across the state and all across the country that are having a difficult time implementing No Child Left Behind.
    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate on “This Week”

    Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Aug 19, 2007)
    Incentive pay for school wide performance

    Q: What about performance-based pay?

    A: Well, I have long supported incentive pay for school wide performance. You know, what we’re trying to do is to change the culture within schools and to provide the resources, the training and the support that teachers need to do the job they do want to do. You have to reform No Child Left Behind. We’re going to try to do that and begin to make it much more in line with the reality of teaching.

    Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate on “This Week”

    Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Aug 8, 2007)
    Total change in No Child Left Behind

    No Child Left Behind has been a terrible imposition on teachers & school districts & families & students. Part of it is because it was an unfunded mandate. And part of it is that the Dept. of Education under Pres. Bush did not absolutely enforce it and interpret it in the right way. So we need growth models for students. We need broader curriculum. We need to make sure that when we look at our children, we don’t just see a little walking test. We’ve got to have a total change in No Child Left Behind.
    Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: 2007 AFL-CIO Democratic primary forum

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Government Reform Aug 8, 2007)
    Campaigns last too long & cost too much

    Campaigns last too long and they cost too much money. And they’re disproportionately influenced by Washington insiders, which is why it’s not going to be enough just to change political parties [in the presidency]. But we also have to make sure that we are mobilizing Americans across race & regions, if we’re actually going to bring these changes about. Change doesn’t happen from the top down, it happens from the bottom up. It’s because millions of voices get mobilized and organized.
    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: 2007 AFL-CIO Democratic primary forum

    Joe Biden on NCLB: (Education Jul 23, 2007)
    Voting for No Child Left Behind was a mistake

    Q: Everyone else on this stage who was in Congress in 2001 voted for No Child Left Behind. Would you scrap it or revise it?

    It was a mistake. The reason I voted for it, against my better instinct, is I have great faith in Ted Kennedy, who is so devoted to education. But I would scrap it--or I guess, theoretically, you could do a major overhaul. But I think I’d start from the beginning. You need better teachers. You need smaller classrooms. You need to start kids earlier. It’s all basic.

    Click for Joe Biden on other issues.   Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC

    Joe Biden on NCLB: (Education Feb 21, 2007)
    NCLB needs more resources, but also is fundamentally flawed

    Q: What do you plan to do about No Child Left Behind? Do you believe that this issue is simply one of never having provided the resources to carry out the original mission of the program or are there other fundamental flaws inherent in a program with so much emphasis on teaching to the test?

    A: Both. I sleep with a teacher every night -- my wife. She taught high school -- had three remedial classes and two advanced classes. Those kids in the remedial class went from sixth grade to 10th grade, and they were still penalized. Those kids in the advanced class, she didn’t have to do a thing with. They passed the test. There is something fundamentally wrong with it. And we’ve underfunded it by about $70 billion. We know the problem:

    1. Classrooms are too big; we need smaller classrooms, period.
    2. A lot of teachers are going to be retiring. We need a program where we attract the best and brightest students coming out of our colleges to be teachers, and pay them.
    Click for Joe Biden on other issues.   Source: 2007 AFSCME Democratic primary debate in Carson City Nevada

    Hillary Clinton on NCLB: (Education Dec 12, 2006)
    2001: Proposed and passed National Teacher Corps

    The standards and accountability movement has grown dramatically over the last decade. The No Child Left Behind Act became law, and it has laid bare the problems in many of our poorest, worst-performing schools. We can no longer say that we didn’t know that these schools were failing some of our most vulnerable kids. To improve the quality of education, we need to improve instruction in the classroom. Nationwide, two million teachers will leave teaching over the next decade. NYC already loses 30% more math teachers and 22% more science teachers than it certifies every year. IN 2001, I proposed the National Teacher Corps, which brings teachers into the classroom, and a new initiative that would provide more schools with strong principals. Both became law.
    Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.   Source: 2006 intro to It Takes A Village, by H. Clinton, p.304-305

    Kirsten Gillibrand on NCLB: (Education Nov 7, 2006)
    More funds for NCLB and early education

    Click for Kirsten Gillibrand on other issues.   Source: 2006 Senate campaign website, gillibrand2006.com, “Issues”

    Joe Sestak on NCLB: (Education Nov 7, 2006)
    Invest more in our public schools, and demand more

    Not fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act has meant deploying a “bare-bones” instead of high-quality testing approach, offering fewer remedial programs, and so on. We must demand more from our public schools, but must invest more in their outcome as well. I will work to ensure there is enough funding for key areas that have been shown to have a significant impact, such as: early childhood education, affordable access to college, and attracting and rewarding quality teachers.
    Click for Joe Sestak on other issues.   Source: 2006 House campaign website, sestakforcongress.com, “Issues”

    Amy Klobuchar on NCLB: (Education Jan 18, 2006)
    No Child Left Behind is an unfunded mandate

    I will fight for high standards and accountability in education?but in a way that provides local schools and teachers with the support they need to fulfill these standards. The No Child Left Behind law has created unfunded mandates and failed to meet its commitment to support special education. Our schools and teachers need real support, not empty promises, from the politicians in Washington.
    Click for Amy Klobuchar on other issues.   Source: 2006 Senate campaign website, www.amyklobuchar.com, “Issues”

    Barack Obama on NCLB: (Education Oct 1, 2005)
    Race to the Top: 46 states competed for creative reform

    President Obama's educational Race to the Top was the most dramatically successful component of the Recovery Act. Using a modest amount of money, $4.5 billion, it stoked unprecedented competition among states to develop creative ideas for education reform. Only 11 states and the District of Columbia won the competition for federal money, but all 46 state applicants implemented major educational improvements that will produce greater benefits than the grant money itself.
    Click for Barack Obama on other issues.   Source: A Governor's Story, by Jennifer Granholm, p.243

    Jennifer Granholm on NCLB: (Jobs Oct 1, 2005)
    Jobs Race to the Top: compete for regional job creation

    Obama's educational Race to the Top was the most dramatically successful component of the Recovery Act. Using a modest amount of money, $4.5 billion, it stoked unprecedented competition among states to develop creative ideas for education reform. I urged that we borrow the Race to the Top concept to fuel regional job creation. The goal: To create 3 million jobs in 3 years. Here's how it could work:
    Click for Jennifer Granholm on other issues.   Source: A Governor's Story, by Jennifer Granholm, p. 243

    Marty Walsh on NCLB: (Education Jul 10, 2003)
    Supported federal school breakfast supplement

    Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform indicates voting YES in Part I: Families & Children:No Child Left Behind. [State Rep. Walsh voted YES].

    Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which eliminated a state supplement to the federally-funded school breakfast program whereby all eligible children shall be provided free, nutritious breakfasts at no cost to them.

    Relevant platform section: PART I: FAMILIES & CHILDREN, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY: No Child Left Behind: "We believe that young people are our most precious resource, and we see inherent worth and promise in every child. Ours is truly the Party that seeks to "Leave No Child Behind."We endorse, therefore, the goals established under The Children's Defense Fund initiative of that name, to ensure every child a healthy start [which includes CDF's support of school breakfast programs]."

    Source citation: Veto Override ; vote number 252

    Click for Marty Walsh on other issues.   Source: Massachusetts House voting record via MassScorecard.org

    Jesse Ventura on NCLB: (Principles & Values Jul 2, 2000)
    Political “horse races” ignore the issues

    We’ve come to think of our elections the same way we think about sports. We focus on competition and winning. How many of us actually know what the most popular candidates stand for in any given election? Why isn’t anybody asking what these candidates plan to do if they get elected? Doesn’t it matter?

    When elections turn into horse races and popularity contests, the candidates who end up rising to the top are not necessarily the ones who have the brightest ideas about how to govern our nation. Sometimes they’re the ones who’ll do anything to win.

    Candidates are applying for jobs as public servants, and we, the voters, and the ones doing the hiring. If we’re going to hire the right person for the job, we need to focus on the candidates’ qualifications, their understanding of the issues that matter, and their plans for handling those issues. If any given candidate is too busy trashing his or her opponents to focus on the issues, then they’ve just told us they’re not qualified for the job

    Click for Jesse Ventura on other issues.   Source: Do I Stand Alone, by Jesse Ventura, p. 30-1

    • Additional quotations related to NCLB issues can be found under Education.
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