Back to Year 2006 - Letters
October 2, 2006
Dear Superintendents, California Education Coalition, & Interested Parties:
As I am sure you are aware, the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), is due for Congressional reauthorization in 2007. On behalf of every student in California, I am committed to working with Congress and the United States Department of Education (ED) to ensure that the reauthorized NCLB will reflect changes that address the challenges and opportunities California faces throughout our education system.
What is clear after several years of NCLB is that the law has had significant impact on our schools. While we can all agree with the goals of NCLB, it is also clear that the practical implementation of the law has had unintended consequences for our schools. So as we begin to consider reauthorization, I believe it vital that the State of California, to the extent possible, speak with one voice about changes to the law that will allow us to maintain NCLB’s goals, but do so in a more realistic and helpful fashion.
Therefore, in the coming months I will be traveling the state collecting input from all interested parties through public meetings, written testimony and meetings with subject matter experts throughout California. With the information I gather, the California Department of Education will submit to Congress and ED suggested changes to NCLB for consideration during the ensuing debate.
The four topic areas on which I plan to focus are:
- Accountability
- Interventions and Corrective Actions
- Highly Qualified Teacher
- English Learner Issues
Please find attached specific questions and points we hope to address during these public meetings.
If you would like to submit written testimony on any or all of these topics, please submit by January 2, 2007 to California Department of Education, c/o Amy Cameron, Executive Office, 1430 N Street, Suite 5602, Sacramento, CA 95814. All written comments addressing NCLB topics will be posted on the CDE Web site: No Child Left Behind.
Public meetings throughout California will be held Monday, October 16 through Wednesday, October 18. I encourage you to attend and submit oral comments. If you plan to speak, please RSVP to Amy Cameron 916-322-4917 or acameron@cde.ca.gov to ensure your name is added to the list of speakers. We would ask that comments be limited to around three minutes so everyone will have a chance to be heard — and to the extent possible, please limit your comments to the specific topic of the hearing. CDE is working with our hosts to videotape all hearings that will be posted on our Web site.
Accountability
Monday, October 16, 2006 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Santa Clara County Office of Education Board Room
1290 Ridder Park Dr. San Jose, CA 95131-2304
Interventions and Corrective Actions
Monday, October 16, 2006 3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Natomas Unified School District Board Room
1901 Arena Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95834
Highly Qualified Teachers
Tuesday, October 17, 2006 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Fresno High School, Fresno Unified
1831 Echo Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704
English Learner Issues
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Glendale High School, Glendale Unified
1440 East Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205-1503
Following the public meetings and the submission of written testimony, I will review all information and seek input and advice from subject-matter experts to help frame California’s suggested changes. It is my hope that our entire state will be able to reach consensus on key issues so we may work together to ensure that in fact No Californian is Left Behind.
Sincerely,
JACK O’CONNELL
Attachment: NCLB Reauthorization Public Meetings.
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814