January 20, 2009 Daily Camera (Boulder, Colorado)

HEADLINE: Teachers want changes to 'No Child Left Behind'

By Amy Bounds

Jan. 20--BOULDER, Colo. -- Bashing the all-or-nothing, punitive aspects of the sweeping federal No Child Left Behind Act is a popular pastime for local educators.

So as Barack Obama assumes the presidency, many here have high hopes that he will push significant changes, not just small tweaks, when the law is reauthorized in the next year or two.

"Changes to No Child Left Behind could be very positive for Boulder Valley," said school board President Helayne Jones.

She's looking for more flexibility in how school success is defined under the law and more realistic expectations. Now, a school must meet performance goals in multiple categories for sub-groups of students, including low-income students and English-language learners.

Miss just one and the school, or school district, is labeled a failure.

Obama also has promised to boost federal spending on education, increase access to high-quality preschool programs and support early-intervention programs to reduce drop-outs.

"To have a supporter of public education in the White House is pretty significant," Jones said.

With deep budget cuts looming for education at the state level and a possible revenue shortfall in the Boulder Valley School District, local educators are just as anxious as everyone else to see the economy rebound.

Obama's proposed economic-stimulus package also includes money for school construction -- a major need statewide, said Kevin Welner, director of the University of Colorado's Education and the Public Interest Center.

The state for years has talked about the need to help school districts pay to build new schools to handle growth and repair aging buildings.

"It's money that the state needs desperately," Welner said.

Investing in education -- and making math and science education a national priority -- can only help the economy, local educators say.

"Obama understands the connection between science education and a strong economy," said Samantha Messier, Boulder Valley's science director. "We need a workforce that's scientifically literate."