Statement by Anne L. Bryant
Executive Director, National School Boards Association

Alexandria, Va., - February 22, 2010 - NSBA Executive Director Anne L. Bryant raised serious questions and concerns today over the federal government’s role in education in response to President Barack Obama’s proposal to condition a state’s eligibility for Title I funds and several competitive grant programs to its method for adopting academic standards. The proposal would require a state to either join other states in developing common standards or have its higher education community certify that its standards are at a sufficient level for students to be college and career ready.

“While the goal of high academic standards is laudable and school boards strongly support it, this amounts to an unnecessary over-reach by the federal government to coerce states to adopt a particular approach or be shut out of future funding for key programs. This level of coercion is unnecessary, because 48 states are already voluntarily working to develop common core standards.

“Rather than providing a positive incentive for states to develop and adopt rigorous common standards, the irony of this proposal is that it penalizes states that do not follow the administration’s approach by withdrawing Title I funding from the students, schools, and school districts that need the support most.

“This new condition on funding for key federal programs also opens the door for the federal government to call for even more conditions, such as the use of national tests for accountability purposes.

“NSBA Delegate Assembly adopted a resolution last year  (http://www.nsba.org/MainMenu/Advocacy/FederalLaws/Standards.aspx) supporting efforts by the federal government in assisting the voluntary development and adoption of state-led common standards. However, the resolution opposes efforts by the federal government to coerce or condition their adoption as a condition for states to receive federal funds for other programs (such as Title I).”

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association (www.nsba.org) is a not-for-profit organization representing State Associations of school boards and their member districts across the United States. Its mission is to work with and through all its State Association members to foster excellence and equity in public education through school board leadership. NSBA achieves that mission by representing the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.

# # #

Contact:
Linda Embrey, Communications Office
703-838-6737; lembrey@nsba.org
www.nsba.org