NCLB Action: Advocacy Organizations provide Tools for Parents and Community Leaders

By focusing the nation on student achievement, NCLB has the potential for rallying parents and other members of the public to ensure that every child receives an adequate education and that every school receives adequate resources to provide such an education. There are several organizations that have for years been working to build grassroots support for and involvement in public education. In this context, these groups have also provided resources and/or avenues for grassroots action around NCLB. The following organizations stand out in providing these services: Public Education Network (PEN), the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The resources these organizations provide on NCLB are detailed below.

PEN

PEN is a national organization of local education funds and individuals working to improve public schools and build public support for quality public education for poor and disadvantaged children in low-income communities across the country. PEN provides informative and accessible resources for parents and community leaders regarding NCLB, both on its website and in print. In addition, PEN is hosting public hearings on NCLB in ten states from May 2004 through the fall of 2004.

PEN's Resources

PEN provides general information about NCLB on its website and in print. There are summaries of major topics covered by NLCB, such as: teacher quality, standards and assessments and parent notification, and, under each topic, PEN provides tips for parents and community leaders to help them to become active.

PEN provides an excellent Action Guide for Community and Parent Leaders that can be downloaded. The guide sets forth the central provisions of NCLB and explains how these provisions are to be implemented. The guide also presents questions to be asked by community leaders and parents and action items for these groups.

This publication is unique because it not only contains clear and organized information about key provisions of NCLB, it also encourages parents and community leaders to look beyond NCLB to improve public education and gives helpful tips for doing so. For example, when discussing teacher quality, the guide suggests ways parents and community leaders can help the implementation of NCLB. At the same time, the guide urges these groups to ensure that adequate resources are available to hire and retain quality teachers. Many critics of NCLB believe that NCLB does not provide adequate resources for the hiring and retention of high quality teachers.

Similarly, in the area of testing, there are those who question the use of a single standardized test to determine success under NCLB. PEN's guide acknowledges that a single test is not a complete measure of what a student has learned. It urges its readers to collect data from previous years to determine whether a school is improving and to look at other indicators of a school's performance.

Also, in its section on school transfers and supplemental services, the guide advises that parents consider the effect of transfers on the children who remain in the "failing" school and the school itself. Therefore, in addition to educating its readers about the school transfer process, the guide provides suggestions on how to help improve schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress.

This guide provides clear strategies for parent and community leaders to aid in the implementation of NCLB, and to bridge the gap between NCLB and other efforts to improve public education. The guide also provides its readers with additional general strategies for organizing other members of the community to support public education. It is a unique and valuable tool for any member of the public interested in public education and is highly recommended.

NCLB hearings

From May 2004 through the fall of 2004, PEN is hosting hearings in communities across the United States in order to gather public opinion about the impact of NCLB. PEN will be conducting these hearings in conjunction with state and regional partners. After conducting the hearings, PEN will analyze and publish its findings.

Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence

The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence is a non-partisan, non-profit independent citizens' advocacy group that was established in 1983. It has been instrumental in pushing for public education reform in Kentucky, which has become a model for successful public school reform resulting in improved student achievement. The Prichard Committee commissions studies and produces publications on issues relating to education policy.

The Committee is also known for training parents to be leaders in education and education advocacy. The Committee's Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership conducts seminars for Kentucky public school parents, providing them with the skills, vocabulary and resources to understand and make changes in their schools. In its leadership seminars, experts discuss the impact of NCLB in Kentucky. The next edition of Kentucky School Updates will inform parents about key aspects of NCLB as they relate to Kentucky.

In addition, the Committee has established the Center for Parent Leadership, which brings its model to communities around the country. The Center for Parent Leadership has published a handbook entitled "No Child Left Behind: What's in it for Parents." It is clear and accessible and provides six "leverage points" which parents can use to understand and exercise their rights under NCLB.

National PTA

The National PTA says it is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the country. It is a non-profit association of parents, educators and other individuals active in public schools. National PTA's mission is to support and speak on behalf of children and youth in schools, to assist parents in developing skills to raise and protect their children and to assist parents and other members of the public in being involved in public education. Among its policy priorities are: school-based early childhood education, school-based before- and after-school programs; child nutrition, class-size reduction, school construction and school safety.

One major aim of National PTA regarding NCLB is ensuring full funding of the law and its requirements. On its website, National PTA provides information for the general public including informative and clear summaries of various topics, including ESEA (NCLB), Title I, and testing. The website also provides information on parent's rights and parental involvement under NCLB. In addition, there are updates on NCLB action in the section entitled "This Week in Washington."

ACORN

ACORN says it is the nation's largest community organization of low and moderate-income families. Among ACORN's priorities is better public schools. ACORN has been a strong grassroots voice for fully funding NCLB and increasing funding for public schools in general. They have rallied across the country and various chapters have organized campaigns around supporting public education. Their website provides press releases and clippings regarding ACORN's actions around the country. In addition, ACORN has put out a study regarding teacher quality and NCLB. This report focuses on parental notification and involvement as it relates to the requirement under NCLB for highly qualified teachers in every classroom.