Politics K-12

Rep. Timothy J. Walz, D-Minn., a freshman and former teacher who won his seat in an upset victory in 2006, is co-sponsoring a bill that would suspend the accountability provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, according to my colleague, David Hoff, over at NCLB Act II.

If that sounds like a bold move for someone facing a potentially tough re-election battle ... it actually, well, isn't. At least two of the three Republicans vying to take on Walz in the general election have said they would scrap the NCLB law, according to this news report. Still, it's telling that, at least in this contested congressional district in a swing state, the candidates seem to have a similar take on the NCLB law. Namely, that it's not working.

I'm not sure yet if that sentiment is unique to Minnesota--nearly every member of the state's congressional delegation opposed the law even back in 2001--or if it's a trend that will play out in tough races nationwide. I'll be watching this as House races heat up, but let me know what you think in the comments section below.