The week before Election Day, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings put the Bush administration's final stamp on NCLB by publishing new Title I rules. Among other things, the wide-ranging set of rules require states to set a uniform graduation rate and use it to hold high schools accountable; force schools to complete a series of administrative tasks before they redirect money away from tutoring and school choice; and create a minimum "n" size for the number of students in a subgroup needed for that group to be include under NCLB's accountability rules.
At the time, key lawmakers endorsed the rules and critics complained that Spellings was using the rule-making process to accomplish many of her goals for reauthorization. (For the complete story, see here.)
Yesterday, the Education Department indicated it will publish new Title I rules on Tuesday. He gave no hint of what will be in them. But the rules will be tea leaves to read for the current administration's priorities for reauthorization.
David,
Congratulations on your appointment to the Department of Education. You have done yeoman's work at Education Week and I am sure you will continue the same level of excellence in your new position.
You will be missed at NCLB. I can only hope EdWeek finds someone remotely comparable to your high standards.
All the best,
Paul Hoss
Marshfield, Massachusetts