March 23, 2004 |
2004-R-0344 | |
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT | ||
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By: Judith Lohman, Chief Analyst | ||
You asked several questions concerning the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The questions and answers are listed individually below.
Is it true that Connecticut is receiving no federal funds to implement NCLB?
It is not true. Connecticut received a total of $ 180 million in federal funding under NCLB for FY 2003-04. The attached table, submitted to the Education and Appropriations committees on March 1, 2004 by the State Department of Education (SDE), shows the breakdown of these federal funds, as well as the amounts Connecticut received under other major federal education grant programs over the past four years.
We also enclose a town-by-town listing of grants under Title I, Part A of the NCLB.
What is the projected cost of NCLB for Connecticut taxpayers?
There has currently been no overall estimate of the state and local costs for implementing NCLB in Connecticut. sHB 5584, reported favorably by the Education Committee on March 17, requires SDE and the Office of Policy and Management to estimate these costs and report their findings to the Education Committee by January 1, 2005.
What is the state receiving from the federal government to implement the act?
See above and attached table.
Can the state or individual municipalities opt out of NCLB?
Yes. A state or school district that opts out of the law would have to forego various federal grants. The U. S. Department of Education has provided the following summary guidance for states and school districts choosing to opt out:
• State nonparticipation under NCLB does not disqualify it from receiving funds under the Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Program, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Special Education).
• State nonparticipation in NCLB would not generally impact any formula allocations of federal funds authorized outside of NCLB. However, for programs within NCLB, there would be a negative impact on allocations made under Safe and Drug Free Schools, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and the State Technology Grants by declining Title I funds, since these allocations are based on the Title I formula.
• A state may still apply for discretionary grant funds if it does not participate in NCLB state-administered formula grant programs.
• A state may choose not to participate in one or more titles of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, which is the NCLB).
• Local districts would not be eligible to participate in NCLB programs in which the state chose not to participate.
• An individual school district may choose not to accept funds under one or more titles of the ESEA.
If a municipality opts out, does it still have to comply with certain reporting requirements?
In written responses to questions from the Education Committee submitted on March 1, 2004, the SDE stated: “We have interpreted NCLB and the implementing state law to require all school districts to participate in the accountability provisions of NCLB. The sanctions for failing to meet NCLB (such as notifying parents when their child is taught by a less than highly qualified teacher, supplemental services, choice and restructuring) are not applied to school districts not receiving funds under Title I. ”
Connecticut’s accountability law, adopted to implement NCLB, requires all districts to participate in annual testing in grades 3-8 and 10 and applies the adequate yearly progress requirements of the NCLB to all schools districts.
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