Idaho is now in compliance with requirements related to the "No Child Left Behind" Act (NCLB). In the Rose Garden today, President Bush announced that Idaho's plan for meeting the federal requirements has been approved. This plan outlines the steps Idaho is taking to comply with all requirements of the act. These steps should positively impact academic performance of Idaho school children.
Karen McGee, State Board of Education member, represented Idaho at the announcement. "Serving as chair of the State Assessment and Accountability Commission for the past three years, Ms. McGee has played a key role in this important achievement," said Board President Blake Hall.
Building upon the initial draft submitted by the Idaho Department of Education on January 31, 2003 and further discussions with the U.S. Department of Education, the Board and its staff crafted the final version. The Board assumed the task of writing the plan when the Idaho Legislature reassigned responsibility for the federal programs to the SBOE.
Achieving compliance is a significant hurdle for education in Idaho. Idaho had failed to fully meet the federal requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, now reauthorized under the name of the "No Child Left Behind"Act, and therefore had not been in compliance since 1994. "Because Idaho's failure to comply for so many years we were faced with the risk of a possible withholding of federal funds or a fine," said McGee. A total of $201 million in federal dollars could have been affected by the failure to comply.
"The federal component provides the foundation for moving forward with our state accountability plan," said Karen Vauk, chair of the Accountability Committee.