Schools
Long Beach Unified Seeks Federal NCLB Rules Waiver
The Long Beach Unified School District is joining with other school districts to seek a waiver from No Child Left Behind accountability rules.
Long Beach schools officials want more flexibility to improve schools and prepare students for college and the workplace so are seeking a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind rules.
The Long Beach Unified School District has joined eight other California school systems in asking to replace the federal rules with "new, higher level of locally-driven accountability," officials said in a news release Thursday.
The consortium of school districts submitted their NCLB waiver applications Thursday to the California State Board of Education, which will review the requests.
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Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 to set achievement standards and measurable goals with the aim of improving student educational performance. Schools are required to assess students in basic skills at certain grades in order to receive federal funding.
"The current federal accountability bar has been too low and too narrowly focused for too long," said LBUSD Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser.
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"We want a new accountability system that encourages a culture of collaboration and collective responsibility for preparing all students for successful future and holds us accountable for eliminating disparity."
Under the waiver proposal, the school districts would have four major goals:
• Set college and career-ready expectations for all students.
• Focus on collective responsibility, accountability and action.
• Develop intrinsic motivation for change through recognition, accountability and support for schools.
• Build capacity for effective instruction and leadership.
The school districts would collect and share data that measures student progress in preparing for colleges and careers. They would also share data to strengthen teaching and learning while identifying elements common among teacher evaluation systems.
Each district would develop individual education effectiveness and evaluation systems by the 2013-2014 school year. The waiver application would not supersede local bargaining rights, according to the district.
What do you think of LBUSD's request to waive NCLB accountability rules and establish its own accountability system? Tell us in the comments.
