Published Online: September 17, 2008Published in Print: September 24, 2008Groups Seek to Keep a Spotlight on Issues of Testing, StandardsSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice tells an Aspen Institute meeting that she is worried about the number of U.S. children not finishing highschool.—Photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari/APBy Alyson KleinWashingtonThe No Child Left Behind Act is not likely to bereauthorized this year and isn’t getting much play on thepresidential campaign trail.But this week, some of the most ardent supporters oftesting and standards discussed how the law has bolsterededucation and what next steps policymakers shouldconsider in renewing it in the next Congress.The Aspen Institute, a Washington think tank,sponsored the Sept. 15 event at a Washington hotel,which it called “An Urgent Call.” In 2006, the instituteestablished a bipartisan panel, led by former governorsTommy G. Thompson, a Republican from Wisconsin, andRoy E. Barnes, a Democrat from Georgia, to proposesignificant changes to the NCLB law.Last year, the panel released a report listing more than 70 recommendations for overhauling the law,including such ideas as detailing strategies to determine teachers’ effectiveness using studenttest-score data and calling on the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for theNational Assessment of Educational Progress, to develop national standards and tests.The No Child Left Behind law, which requires states to test students in mathematics and reading ingrades 3-8 and once in high school, was scheduled to be reauthorized in 2007, but renewal has stalledin Congress. Lawmakers aren’t likely to continue working on it until next year.Education Week: Groups Seek to Keep a Spotlight on Issues of Testing, S... http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/17/05aspen.h28.html?print=11 of 3 1/3/2009 9:43 AMThe daylong meeting featured Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, New York City SchoolsChancellor Joel I. Klein, Kati Haycock, the director of the Education Trust, a research and advocacyorganization based in Washington, and others who are likely to champion retaining a strong federalaccountability system after President Bush leaves office.“There’s a coalition of [advocates] on the right, left, and center” who support principles such asaccountability and rigorous standards, said Gary M. Huggins, the executive director of the AspenInstitute’s Commission on No Child Left Behind. But they are “not as well organized as theopposition.”But Joel Packer, a lobbyist for the 3.2 million-member National Education Association, called thediscussion “one-sided,” since most of the participants support federally mandated testing. The NEA hasbeen an outspoken critic of the federal school law.Mr. Packer said that there isn’t the political will in Congress to get behind the Aspen Commission’sideas. While many items on the commission’s wish list were incorporated into a bill introduced bythree sponsors. That bill has not been considered by the Senate education committee.National Guidance NeededThe day started out with a discussion of the gap between students’ results on some state tests andtheir scores on the NAEP, the federally sponsored test also known as the nation’s report card.Mr. Klein urged the federal government to set national standards on subject matter content, perhapsthrough a presidential commission.“In the absence of accountability, it’s game over,” he said. “And a critical component of accountabilityis our willingness to test our kids. … If you think this is a Sputnik moment, then you should be calling,I believe, for national standards and national assessments.”Mr. Klein also proposed that the federal government direct more resources toward offering districtsincentives to pay teachers for boosting student achievement, and expanding school choice options forlow-income parents.Roy Romer, a former Democratic governor of Colorado who now is chairman of ED in ‘08, an effort toraise the profile of education issues in the presidential election, said he worried that states may not beready to embrace national standards. He suggested that a group of about 15 governors should developvoluntary standards instead.“I would like to get there, national standards,” Mr. Romer said. “I’ve made a political judgment thatthat’s not doable now in these United States.”Secretary Spellings cautioned that the back-and-forth on the panel might miss the point.“I just want us to be cautious about the wonkery of this. Rome is burning and we need to put out thefire,” the secretary said, referring to the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and thosefrom more privileged backgrounds. She said the accountability advocates for testing and standardsneed to make it clear, particularly to suburban voters, that the nation’s ability to compete in theglobal economy is in jeopardy.“Without public will, public support, and public understanding, politicians and policymakers don’t feelany need to scratch the itch. It’s as simple as that,” Ms. Spellings said at the meeting.”Later, Sir Michael Barber, a onetime chief adviser to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, alsoEducation Week: Groups Seek to Keep a Spotlight on Issues of Testing, S... http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/17/05aspen.h28.html?print=12 of 3 1/3/2009 9:43 AMadvocated national education standards for the United States.“The question of national standards is inescapable,” he said. “The U.S. needs fewer, clearer, andhigher national standards.”Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also addressed the group. Her speech focused on the importanceof education in keeping the United States secure and globally competitive.“I am concerned that less than 1 percent of our youth are studying critical languages,” Ms. Rice said.“But it is even more troubling that many children, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds, aresimply not finishing high school. And we know that that means that fewer Americans are going to beprepared for the jobs of the 21st century.”Vol. 28, Issue 05, Page 24Education Week: Groups Seek to Keep a Spotlight on Issues of Testing, S... http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/17/05aspen.h28.html?print=13 of 3 1/3/2009 9:43