Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Values

Believes the primary focus of No Child Left Behind (NCBL) should be on giving flexibility back to the states and local school districts.
Teachers, parents, and local school boards are in the best position to assess the needs of students. Virginia's Standards of Learning have proven successful in ensuring our state has strong, academic performing schools.
While the states and local school districts should be given more flexibility, the federal government continues to play a critical role in providing funding for educational opportunities for disabled and low-income children.

Actions

Conversed with educators throughout the district on the challenges of meeting the standards set in No Child Left Behind. Under this law, even the best performing schools could be deemed "failures" by the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). This is just one example of adjustments that need to be made to the system now.

Support allowing the Commonwealth of Virginia to opt-out of certain requirements under NCLB.

Member of the Congressional Rural Education Caucus. The caucus is a bipartisan group of Members interested in working together to promote greater awareness of the unique needs and functions of rural school systems.

Source