AAE Sides with Chiefs for Change to Oppose NCLB Blanket Waiver

Alexandria, VA - With reauthorization of No Child Left Behind taking much longer than expected, the American Association of School Administrators and the National School Boards Association have proposed a request for a blanket waiver from the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, commonly referred to as No Child Left Behind, which would effectively eliminate the need to comply with all No Child Left Behind provisions.

Yesterday, education reform leader, Chiefs for Change, argued that a blanket waiver could produce "uncertainty for states and potentially threaten the progress that has been made by many states to improve the quality of education for students across America."

AAE Executive Director Gary Beckner agrees with Chiefs for Change's assessment and released the following statement:

"While other education organizations are calling for a blanket waiver to No Child Left Behind, AAE recognizes that this will not solve the original obstacles of reauthorization. There is no quick fix to the problems faced by No Child Left Behind and a blanket waiver has the potential to halt meaningful progress toward creating a system that has worked in part for schools, teachers and students.

AAE supports a timely approach to reauthorization that promotes flexibility first. Clearly a one-size-fits-all system does not work. While waivers may be necessary in certain rare circumstances, blanket waivers would erode overall accountability within school systems and potentially block student opportunity and outcomes.

This summer, the Obama administration has set a goal to fix NCLB, not produce a quick fix. We owe it to our teachers and students to take the opportunity to improve NCLB from the ground up. AAE looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to represent our membership's views in this debate."

The Association of American Educators is the largest national, non-union, professional educators' association, offering an alternative to the partisan politics and non-educational agendas of the teacher labor unions. AAE does not endorse, support or contribute to any political cause or candidacy. AAE has members in all 50 states and welcomes professionals from all education entities. Membership is $180 per year.