Federal role in education expands. (Insider Report).(George W. Bush, Leave No Child Behind Act)(Brief Article)

In his February 27, 2001 address to Congress, President Bush reiterated his continuing support for "local control of schools" and insisted: "We should not, and we will not, run all schools from Washington, D.C." A little less than a year later, the president signed the "Leave No Child Behind Act," which the Los Angeles Times described as "the most important piece of education legislation passed in Washington since 1965." A headline in the December 19, 2001 New York Times properly described the bill as a measure "to expand [the] federal role in public education."

"For the first time, all states will administer a single test, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, to gauge the rigor of state-established standards" in math and reading, noted the Times. The tests will be given each year to all students in grades three through eight. Children assigned to poorly performing schools "will be eligible for taxpayer-financed tutoring and other supplemental services." The federal Title I program, which redistributes taxpayer funds to "high poverty" schools, received a whopping 20 percent increase.

More importantly, the Bush-supported education bill will dramatically increase federal scrutiny and control of local schools. "You need to be a tough cop on the beat to enforce what Congress says it wants states to do," explained Representative George Miller (D-Calif.). The Los Angeles Times pointed out that Miller "was a key member of the committee" that drafted the final bill. In 1994, Miller had displayed his zeal for government control of education in his amendment requiring home schools to be certified by state education authorities. After a tidal wave of outraged phone calls and faxes ...