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SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today released a statement regarding the Bush Administration's proposed revisions to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act:

"I continue to strongly support the tenets of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is to hold schools accountable for improving academic achievement for all students. California's rigorous academic content standards, and assessment and accountability system were put into place long before passage of NCLB, but with the same goals in mind. It is imperative that we close the achievement gap while improving the achievement of all students to better prepare them for what the 21st century demands.

"To that end, the Bush Administration's latest proposals include the addition of some accountability measurements California already has in place, such as high standards and assessments in high schools, and holding schools accountable for student achievement in science.

"However, I remain deeply concerned that NCLB, while well meaning, is built on unrealistic expectations and continues to emphasize highly punitive measures over desperately needed support. The reality is that under the current construct, NCLB will soon label the vast majority of California public schools as failing. While there is simply no question that all schools can and must improve, the Bush Administration proposal fails to recognize the varying degree of assistance needed in our schools, and does not allow the state and local districts to use our limited resources in a way that helps those schools and students that need assistance the most.

"My greatest concern with the new proposal is that under the guise of holding schools accountable, President Bush continues to pursue an ideological agenda around private school vouchers instead of heeding the clear call of the American people to work on improving our public schools. After NCLB was enacted, California made it clear to all parents with children attending schools labeled failing by the federal government that they had the right to transfer their children to a different school. The overwhelming majority of parents chose not to transfer. The clear message from our parents is that they want us to focus on improving their local public schools. It is a shame that the President is choosing instead to pursue policies that merely attempt to siphon resources out of the public school system. His 'promise scholarship' proposal reflects a troubling anti-public school bias, and deserves to be soundly rejected.

"Having said that, I am pleased with the Administration's proposal to offer incentives for teachers to work in the neediest schools, and also with its recognition that states must be offered more flexibility to prioritize resources to schools and districts that are truly in need of improvement. There must be a way of differentiating a school or a district that is truly struggling with one that is clearly on the right track."