Will Katrina Topple the No Child Left Behind Act?
The support that greeted the federal No Child Left Behind Act when it was signed into law almost four years ago is eroding exponentially. Even before the nation was buffeted by Hurricane Katrina in late August, a backlash against the law had erupted from a number of sectors, addressing a variety of issues. In the past year alone, the revolt has included suits filed by the state of Connecticut and the National Education Association, as well as state legislation in Utah that seeks to trump the federal law. Dissatisfaction with the No Child Left Behind Act covers a wide range of issues, from complaints that it is underfunded to allegations that it is unconstitutional.
Education Week, November 9, 2005

Nevada Educators Meet Spanish Counterparts on Bilingual Teaching
SEVILLE, Spain – Clark County school administrators brainstormed Tuesday with their Spanish counterparts on how to provide world-class bilingual education to Nevada, hungry for teachers as it copes with a growing Hispanic population. "Las Vegas is the fastest-growing city in the U.S., with a big need for high-quality teachers," said Roger Gonzalez, head of human resources for the school district. Gonzalez was among 73 educators from the United States and Canada who attended seminar ending in this historic Spanish city aimed at cementing accords to enable North American children to graduate from grade school speaking fluent Spanish and English. This year Nevada enrolled in a program, which aims to prepare students for an increasingly global and competitive world. The Spanish government funds the selection process and recruitment of teachers in Spain, and the school districts pay the salaries of teachers when they take up their posts.
Associated Press, November 8, 2005

For Foreign-Born Students, FCAT Can Shatter Dreams
For students in Florida whose first language is not English, the FCAT, meant to measure their knowledge, has instead become a test of their English skills. It is a test many of them fail. In Sarasota County, not one high school senior in the the school district's program for struggling English speakers has passed the reading FCAT, a graduation requirement. Despite taking it as many as five times, all 68 seniors in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program have failed the test.With little expectation of getting into college without a high school diploma, some ESOL students said they have become depressed and consider dropping out.
Sarasota-Herald Tribune, November 7, 2005

Activist to Ask Judge to Punish State in English-Learner Suit
A federal judge will consider halting Arizona's freeway construction to force the state to do more to help educate immigrant children. The state's most powerful public-interest attorney will ask that up to $500 million in federal highway funds be withheld until Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano and the Republican-controlled Legislature agree on a spending plan to improve children's English skills. The English-learner program could cost the state an extra $200 million a year and boost the skills of as many as 160,000 Arizona children, most of whom are U.S. citizens but whose parents generally are immigrants.
Arizona Republic, October 30, 2005

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