Prometheus 6

I have my own understanding of the motivation behind NCLB. But what's in it now that wasn't in it when you voted for it last time? 

GOP Bills Would Relax Test Requirements of 'No Child' Law
By Amit R. Paley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 16, 2007; A06

Republican critics of the No Child Left Behind law flexed their growing muscle yesterday as 57 GOP lawmakers, including the national party chairman, endorsed legislation that would undermine President Bush's signature education initiative.

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who voted for the law in 2001, said he now opposes it because it has shifted control of public schools to the federal government in a more dramatic way than he ever imagined.

"The overwhelming intrusion of No Child Left Behind is too large to deal with unless you fundamentally change the legislation," Blunt said about the introduction of bills yesterday in the House and Senate. The bills would allow states to receive federal education aid even if they opt out of requirements to test all students in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school.

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), chairman of the Republican National Committee and a former Bush Cabinet member, was one of the sponsors of the Senate legislation. Others included Jon Kyl (Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, who voted for the law in 2001, and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), a 2008 presidential hopeful, who also voted for it.