McCollum Stands with School Board Leaders to Demand President Bush Fix and Fund No Child Left Behind

McCollum Stands with School Board Leaders to Demand President Bush Fix and Fund No Child Left Behind

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) addressed more than 800 school board leaders from across the country at the Federal Relations Network Conference sponsored by the National School Board Association. School board representatives gathered in Washington, D.C. to demand that Congress make significant changes to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law and increase federal funding for public education.

"Washington needs to be a partner with state and local government. It is my belief that locally elected school board members are in the best position to make decisions about how to ensure success for all students," said McCollum.

McCollum is a co-sponsor of legislation that allows states or schools districts to suspend the mandates under NCLB during years that it is not fully funded. Since 2002, the law has been under-funded by $27 billion. McCollum was one of forty-one members of the House of Representatives to vote against No Child Left Behind, the greatest federal intrusion into local control of public education.

"We must work together to fight for our children - to make public education in America a priority for the president and every Member of Congress. I stand with you shoulder to shoulder because our children and your schools come first," continued McCollum.

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