ISSUES: Education
Some questions and answers on the education bill signed by President Bush on Jan. 8, 2002
What is the Elementary and Secondary Education Act?
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides most of the funding and regulations for K-12 education. Congress authorized the federal government to spend $26.5 billion for the 2002 budget year, which began Oct. 1; the final amount will probably be lower, after other spending priorities are factored in. If all $26.5 billion is funded, it would give schools about $8 billion more than in 2001.
What are the testing requirements?
The bill requires annual state tests in reading and math for every child in grades three through eight, beginning in the 2004-05 school year. In 2005-2006, schools will have to add science tests. Schools whose scores fail to improve two years in a row could receive more federal aid, but if scores still fail to improve, low-income students can receive money for tutoring or transportation to another public school. A school in which scores fail to improve over six years could be restaffed.
What about schools that already have low test scores?
In schools already on the federal government's list of poor performers, parents could receive tutoring or transportation funds for their children as early as next fall.
How do schools show that they are improving?
Each year, schools must raise the percentage of students who are proficient in reading and math, reaching 100 percent within 12 years. Schools also must close gaps in scores between wealthy and poor students and white and minority students.
Who can provide the tutoring services?
Any group approved by a school district can contract to provide tutoring. That includes teachers within a school district, for-profit services, community nonprofit groups or religious groups.
What if a student is in an unsafe school?
The bill allows students in schools deemed unsafe to immediately transfer to another public school.
Are there requirements on teacher quality?
Yes. The bill requires states to ensure that, within four years, all teachers are qualified to teach in their subject area. States could use subject tests or require teachers to major in their field in college. If a teacher isn't qualified to teach a subject, a school would be required to send a letter notifying parents.
Do schools have to provide any other information to parents?
Yes. Schools must develop annual "report cards" showing a school's standardized test scores compared with both local and state schools. The reports would also show two-year trends in scores and compare the percentage of qualified teachers in a school to other schools and school districts throughout the state.
Does the bill give school districts more freedom in how they spend federal funds?
To an extent. It allows school districts to shift money for several programs from one to another _ they can spend federal teacher-quality funds, for instance, on training, hiring or raises for teachers, for example. But money for poor students, for instance, can't be spent on other programs. All 50 states could use a small portion of their federal funds essentially as they wish, while a pilot program further frees seven states and 150 school districts from more restrictions on spending. States and school districts must apply to be part of the pilot program.
First lady Laura Bush is a reading advocate _ is there more money for reading?
Yes. The bill provides nearly $1 billion per year for the next five years to improve reading _ three times as much as this year _ with a goal of making sure every student can read by third grade.
Are there any new requirements on programs for bilingual students?
Yes. The bill requires schools to test students with limited English skills on their ability to read and write in English after three consecutive years of attending school in the United States.
