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News Tip: Legislation Could 'Systematically Dismantle' Public Ed, Duke Expert Says

A U.S. House vote is expected Friday on a new bill that would replace No Child Left Behind

A U.S. House vote is expected Friday on a new bill that would replace federal No Child Left Behind legislation. The proposal would lessen the federal government’s role in annual standardized testing for schoolchildren. It would also allow federal Title I dollars to follow poor children wherever they are enrolled, including affluent schools and districts.•    Quotes: "I certainly hope a bipartisan agreement can reached, as the reauthorization is long overdue,” says Duke University professor Kristen Stephens. "Yet while accountability is important to ensure all students are making yearly growth, the use of a high-stakes test as the singular method to determine student progress and teacher effectiveness is statistically and ethically flawed."  "With regards to the portability of Title I funding, I am concerned such a change would be a step toward privatization. Such a change could systematically dismantle our public school system and would be particularly detrimental to schools that serve students in high-poverty areas."•    Bio:Kristen Stephens
is an associate professor of the practice in the Duke University Program in Education. Stephens' research focuses on educational policy and assessment. She co-chairs the working group on educational policy for Duke’s Consortium on Social Equity.http://tinyurl.com/nas3df6 •    For additional comment, contact Stephens at:kstephen@duke.edu