Facing NCLB Head-on

The media is starting to notice that both McCain and Obama are shying away from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) on the campaign trail. The law – once considered a shining achievement of the Bush Administration – seems to have become a sort of political kryptonite in the education world.

Although both candidates have recently released education-oriented campaign ads, an impressive feat given that education doesn’t often rank as a top campaign priority, neither mentions the law specifically. This practice is quickly becoming problematic – the candidates can’t ignore the largest K-12 federal education funding source forever.

NCLB funding may pale in comparison to the defense or agriculture budget. But it’s not an insignificant portion of education funding. NCLB funding reached $24 billion in 2008, a large portion of which went to the nation’s most needy schools and districts. It deserves a place in the candidates’ stump speeches as much as any other issue.

Don’t get us wrong, the candidates have talked about education. McCain wants to see an expansion in federal funds for virtual education. Obama has proposed an additional $10 billion for early education. Both have talked about teacher training, school choice and accountability.

But neither has couched the discussion in terms of NCLB and how they will change the law to strengthen schools around the country. By now we know that the law needs tweaking, if not significant changes. The candidates need to start flushing out their NCLB plans and stop fearing the law’s association with the current administration.

Secretary Spellings meanwhile, as well other players in the education arena, have been waving their arms trying to get the candidates’ attention. NCLB legislation expired at the end of fiscal year 2007 and efforts to reauthorize it have proven unfruitful so far. Without concrete direction and priority from the candidates, it is hard to know now in what direction, and with what speed, reauthorization will move forward.

Reauthorization is a pressing issue in the education world. The last seven years of NCLB have been a learning experience for the nation – we now know more about student performance than we ever have before. Bringing NCLB back onto the campaign trail will give the candidates a chance to reconsider NCLB’s strengths and weaknesses. This process probably won’t be pretty, but it is necessary.

We hope McCain and Obama stop beating around the bush (no pun intended) and start solidifying their plans for NCLB soon. Until they do, it will be hard to predict the future of the federal government’s involvement in education.