The Atlanta Journal-Constitution April 16, 2009

HEADLINE:  Get Schooled; What role should the Feds have in schools?

By Laura Diamond
Later this year Congress will rewrite the federal No Child Left Behind Act and there's been a lot of discussion about placing stricter rules on teacher quality and academic standards.

President Obama campaigned on these issues and Education Secretary Arne Duncan has mentioned them during telephone conferences with education writers.

Many of you on this blog have said we need higher quality academic standards for students. Some also have said teacher quality must be improved so that the weak are pushed out and the strong are rewarded.

But are these issues the federal government should control?

No Child Left Behind increased the federal government's role in education. Obama's stimulus package extended it and it looks like this administration isn't stopping.

Here in Georgia we see the Legislature passing bills every year that usurp local control over education.

When did education stop being an issue handled locally? Has this change improved or weakened education?