Superintendent Cox on NCLB Consequences Flexibility

U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced today (3/18/08) that some states will be allowed to use different consequences for schools under No Child Left Behind based on the degree to which they missed annual performance goals. State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox released the following statement on this flexibility:

"This is great news because it will allow up to 10 states to stop treating all schools the same whether they missed Adequate Yearly Progress in one small area or across the board. A school that missed making AYP in just one subgroup should not be subject to the same consequences as a school that missed it in five, six or seven areas. This will allow for more strategic use of data and interventions to specifically help students that are falling behind."

"In the coming days, the staff at the Georgia Department of Education will review guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and begin assembling an application to participate in this pilot. I appreciate President Bush and Secretary Spellings listening to the concerns of state and school leaders and allowing adjustments that will make No Child Left Behind a fairer law without backing away from the core principals of accountability and parental engagement."