While the NCLB reauthorization debate is almost exclusively behind closed doors right now, the fight over its funding is out in the public.
Alyson Klein's story for the next issue of Education Week (which was posted on www.edweek.org today) suggests that it's too soon to predict what might happen. More than 140 House Republicans signed a letter to the president in May saying that they would support the president if he vetoes spending bills. But some of them turned around to vote for the House's bill that appropriates money for education, labor, and other domestic programs—a bill the president almost certainly will reject.
This story from yesterday's Wall Street Journal (subscription required) predicts that the president will win the funding fight. But would a budget victory cost him NCLB reauthorization? Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis., suggests it would. The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee says he won't vote for a NCLB bill if the president doesn't agree to finance the current law. Lots of Democrats may follow his lead.
David,
Do you think NCLB will come back in the original form with a democratic president? I can hardly believe that a law that is underfunded (if it is funded at all) can be followed. Unfortunately this is has been characteristic of Mr. Bush; create new laws and legislation without figuring where the funding will come from. What are your thoughts?
Sincerly,
A concerned teacher
President Bush is more than capable of generating funding for NCLB.