Sen. Ken Salazar releases NCLB findings

Last spring U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (D-Colorado) invited educators to share their experiences with the “No Child Left Behind Act” so he would be better informed about the law and how it relates to real work in public schools. The law will undergo a review this year by Congress, called a reauthorization. Sen. Salazar sent us a letter with a link to his Web site where you will find the survey results and a letter the Senator sent to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), one of the original sponsors of “NCLB.”

Dear Colorado Educator:

Supporting educators and promoting educational opportunities that enable our youth to achieve the American dream are among my top priorities.

As you know, in anticipation of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in the 110th Congress, I invited teachers, school administrators and educators from across Colorado to share with me their experiences, observations and suggestions for any changes to the Act. I am grateful for your participation and assistance. I am pleased to report that more than 2,000 Coloradans responded to the survey, providing me with valuable insight and information about how current federal educational policies affect our youth and educators in the classrooms throughout Colorado’s school districts. I have attached a link to my website where I have posted the survey findings, as well as a letter that I have sent about the survey to Senator Kennedy, who chairs the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (NCLB Survey Findings). It is clear to me based on these findings and recommendations that Congress must reform NCLB to ensure that our educators and school districts have greater flexibility and resources to meet the unique educational needs of our youth and to promote the kind of educational achievement that truly leaves no child behind. These findings will be an essential part of the process as we work to reform NCLB so that it fulfills its promise to help educate our youth for the 21st Century and beyond. As we work toward these goals, I value your continued advice and suggestions.

Thank you again for participating in the survey.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar