RE: [Winona] Legislative Auditor's Report on NCLB

[Anne Morse]

[Winona Online Democracy]

Title: Legislative Auditor's Report on NCLB

Thanks for sharing this letter, Rep. Pelowski.  I’ll admit to being dumbfounded when I read the comments of Commissioner Yecke in the Star Tribune last week. I thought the writer had to have misconstrued her comments, for after all, how could the Office of the Legislative Auditor possibly have taken into account modifications not yet made to the act!  It is a completely irrational position.  Yet apparently that’s exactly what she proposed!  I think Minnesotan’s deserve, and are accustomed to receiving, much, much better.    It’s also obvious to anyone who honestly considers NCLB (No Child Left Behind) that it’s an example of an unfunded mandate like none we have seen in the recent past.  As such, intellectual honesty requires that those who have railed against such mandates to come forward and support the overturning of this bill.   Is there something we can be doing today to make that possible?   Perhaps you could also provide a link to the Legislative Auditor’s report?  I know many of us would be genuinely interested in reading it.  After all, there is nothing more important to us than their future well-being of our children and grandchildren, and a quality education is key to that well-being.    Thanks, Anne Morse       -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gene Pelowski Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004 10:11 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Winona] Legislative Auditor's Report on NCLB   Given the local discussion of public education it may be of interest to add the impact of No Child Left Behind on Winona's Schools. Below is the exact text of the Legislative Auditor's letter to the House Education Committee that arrived Thursday, March 4th on Commissioner Yecke's remarks on the Legislative Auditor's Report. It is unprecedented for the Legislative Auditor to respond in this fashion. Please take the time to read it. If you would like to see the Legislative's Auditor's Report on NCLB go to www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us. Rep. Gene Pelowski Date:             March 1, 2004 To:              Members               House Committee on Education Policy From:               Jim Nobles                            Legislative Auditor Subject:     Evaluation of No Child Left Behind My staff and I want to again thank you for the opportunity to discuss our evaluation of No Child Left Behind.  We hope it helped you better understand the law and its impact on Minnesota schools. As you know, Commissioner Yecke has criticized our analysis because we did not factor in future changes to the No Child Left Behind Act. I want to explain why we did not do that. First, that is not what we were asked to do.  The Legislature asked us to analyze what impact the current No Child Left Behind law is having * and will continue to have * on Minnesota schools. That was our assignment. Second, it is hard to see how we could have factored in future changes to the law.  We would need to know what specific changes will be passed by the Congress and signed by the President and, unfortunately, we do not have that level of knowledge.  Therefore, we think it is appropriate for us to base our analysis on the current requirements of No Child Left Behind. The impacts of No Child Left Behind we have identified are troubling. All the more reason they deserve an honest and productive discussion. That discussion will not occur, however, if our report is dismissed on the assumption that the current requirements of No Child Left Behind will be changed.  The political process in Washington is too uncertain and the challenges in Minnesota too serious for policy makers to be diverted by that assertion. cc:  Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.         Members, Legislative Audit Commission

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