LOS ANGELES — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell issued the following statement regarding new guidelines for NCLB implementation announced today by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.

"I am very pleased that the federal government is going to prioritize results for students over bureaucracy. This signal toward a more flexible application of NCLB is a very important step in the right direction, particularly for students with disabilities.

"In California, we are first and foremost committed to raising student achievement. We believe strongly in high standards as well as accountability and have always supported the goals of NCLB. I was heartened by Secretary Spellings' comments and look forward to a meaningful conversation about how we will continue to demand the best of our students and teachers while focusing our efforts on those students who need the most help.

"I sincerely hope that states like California, that have long been focused on growth in student improvement each year, will be able to benefit significantly from this new approach to NCLB implementation.

"I have been urging the federal government to consider a growth model, like California 's Academic Performance Index, since NCLB's inception. I look forward to working with Secretary Spellings and the workgroup she is convening to continue to make the case for approval of California's high standards-based accountability system to meet the goals of NCLB."

For more background on O'Connell's efforts to encourage consideration of a growth model, please see Fight for Changes to the NCLB Act.

For more information on the new guidelines for NCLB implementation, please visit Secretary Spellings Announces More Workable, "Common Sense" Approach To Implement No Child Left Behind Law [http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/04/04072005.html] (Outside Source).