Published September 2007 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Leave No Schools Behind While students across the state are settling into classrooms this month, Congress is preparing to debate the reauthorization of the education reform act, known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Nearly five years ago, I voted for NCLB. I supported the reforms in that law. But we have come to learn that schools need more funding and more support from Congress if we're truly going to leave no child behind. When Congress passed NCLB in 2002, we made a deal with the American people. We said that from now on, we will hold schools more accountable than ever before. We will require them to make sure that all children succeed academically. Not just the wealthy, not just those who live in the nice parts of town, but all children -- students from Appalachia to Alaska, children with disabilities, and students of all races and ethnicities. Congress has learned, since the implementation of NCLB, that we need to make good on the promises made to our students, teachers, and families in the law. West Virginia's schools need to be given more access to tools that will help our students meet NCLB's testing mandates and requirements. As part of NCLB, the federal government is supposed to provide direct assistance to children from poorer schools. Currently, about half of West Virginia's public schools receive Title I funding. The Title I funding helps students who need help the most -- those schools in rural communities and low income areas. Every child has a right to reach his or her potential, but that right has been stifled by unfulfilled promises to our schools. In this year's federal budget, I worked with my colleagues to include more money for Title I in elementary and secondary schools; to reserve funds to make pre-school more accessible, and provide tax breaks for teachers who purchase their own school supplies. The budget fixes years of broken funding promises from the Bush Administration that have short-changed our teachers, principals, students and parents. For years, schools have been hamstrung with unfunded mandates and paltry federal support that make the existing challenges facing our teachers much more difficult. Schools are working hard to meet increasing federal education guidelines in NCLB, but Congress must do its part to help teachers and students meet these expectations. By providing students and teachers with the resources that they need to succeed, we can meet the goals of NCLB and help all of our students reach their full learning potential. September 12, 2007