Connecticut Lawsuit Says 'No Child Left Behind' Is IllegalFrom Associated PressHARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut on Monday became the first state to challenge the No Child Left Behind law in court, arguing that the centerpiece of President Bush's education law amounts to an unfunded mandate from the federal government."Our message today is: Give up the unfunded mandates, or give us the money," said state Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal. The lawsuit raises the stakes in a fight between states and the Bush administration over the law. Experts expect that legislatures around the country will be watching the case carefully, and that other states could vote to join the lawsuit or file their own.The lawsuit argues that No Child Left Behind is illegal because it requires standardized tests and other school programs that the government doesn't pay for. The suit asks a federal judge to declare that state and local money cannot be used to meet the law's goals.Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has repeatedly denied requests from Connecticut for more flexibility.If there's a bully on the playground, it often takes one brave soul to step forward and stand up to the bully," said state Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, co-chairman of the Legislature's Education Committee. he federal government is providing Connecticut with $5.8 million this fiscal year to pay for the testing, Sternberg said. She estimates federal funds will fall $41.6 million short of paying for costs associated with carrying out the law through 2008.The state is not the first entity to sue in response to No Child Left Behind. The National Education Assn., a teachers' union, filed a lawsuit in the spring on behalf of local districts and 10 state union chapters, including Connecticut."It is an interesting case," said Jack Jennings, president of the Washington-based Center on Education Policy. "It's interesting because a judge has to consider the fact that this is a state that's suing. It's not a school district. It's not a teachers' union. It's the state of Connecticut. So that adds a lot more gravity to the lawsuit."In Utah, the Legislature passed a measure defying the federal law, and it was signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Connecticut Heroes
Connecticut Lawsuit Says 'No Child Left Behind' Is IllegalFrom Associated PressHARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut on Monday became the first state to challenge the No Child Left Behind law in court, arguing that the centerpiece of President Bush's education law amounts to an unfunded mandate from the federal government."Our message today is: Give up the unfunded mandates, or give us the money," said state Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal. The lawsuit raises the stakes in a fight between states and the Bush administration over the law. Experts expect that legislatures around the country will be watching the case carefully, and that other states could vote to join the lawsuit or file their own.The lawsuit argues that No Child Left Behind is illegal because it requires standardized tests and other school programs that the government doesn't pay for. The suit asks a federal judge to declare that state and local money cannot be used to meet the law's goals.Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has repeatedly denied requests from Connecticut for more flexibility.If there's a bully on the playground, it often takes one brave soul to step forward and stand up to the bully," said state Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, co-chairman of the Legislature's Education Committee. he federal government is providing Connecticut with $5.8 million this fiscal year to pay for the testing, Sternberg said. She estimates federal funds will fall $41.6 million short of paying for costs associated with carrying out the law through 2008.The state is not the first entity to sue in response to No Child Left Behind. The National Education Assn., a teachers' union, filed a lawsuit in the spring on behalf of local districts and 10 state union chapters, including Connecticut."It is an interesting case," said Jack Jennings, president of the Washington-based Center on Education Policy. "It's interesting because a judge has to consider the fact that this is a state that's suing. It's not a school district. It's not a teachers' union. It's the state of Connecticut. So that adds a lot more gravity to the lawsuit."In Utah, the Legislature passed a measure defying the federal law, and it was signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
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