House panel OKs resolution against fed curricula rules
HJR11, sponsored by David Cox, R-Lehi, initially urged Congress to immediately repeal the No Child Left Behind Act, but was later substituted with a resolution to oppose further intrusion into state and local control.
"We want to get the message across to Washington they are stepping on grounds that is not there's to interfere with," Cox said.
The federal Academic Competitiveness program would award college grants to students who graduate from high schools designated as having a rigorous curriculum, which is decided by the Secretary of Education. The program would be under NCLB.
"That puts tremendous pressure on principals to do exactly what the Secretary of Education tells them to do instead of letting the local boards and the state be in control of education and curriculum," Cox said. "We're using the resolution to oppose further encroachment into local control of education."
If passed, the resolution, which only expresses the Legislature's opinion and takes no action, would be sent to Congress and the Senate, the Department of Education, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.
"No Child Left Behind is like a Russian novel," said Patty Harrington, state superintendent of public instruction, quoting an Ohio education leader. "It's long, it's complicated and in the end everybody gets killed."
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com
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