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Teachers want accountability from Congress

National Education Association President Reg Weaver said that teachers welcome the accountability measures imposed by the No Child Left Behind Act … and they demand the same from Congress when the law comes up for renewal in 2007.

Some 175 Kansans are attending the NEA Representative Assembly (NEA RA) in Florida this week. Click here for news releases describing activities at the NEA RA.

Weaver said members will intensify efforts to get Congress to increase education spending and loosen guidelines the NEA says threatens teachers' jobs, even if only some of their students fail.

"We are not afraid, although our detractors would like to paint us that way," Weaver told about 9,000 delegates at the NEA's annual meeting, which ends Wednesday. "Accountability is not a one-way street. You can't hold us accountable for environments over which we have no control."

The NEA is also calling for a reduction in class size to 15 students, professional development resources for teachers and for giving states more flexibility in measuring and reacting to school test performance.

The No Child Left Behind Act, passed by Congress in 2001, was championed by President Bush as a way to hold schools accountable.

Under the law, schools are required to test students in math and reading and report their scores by group, such as race, disability, English language ability or economic situation. If one group of students fails to meet standards, an entire school can face penalties.

The NEA has sued the federal government over the law, arguing it puts unfair financial burdens on states and school districts. A judge threw out the lawsuit but the NEA has appealed.

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