No Child Left Behind Reauthorization: Beginning the Process

APA Education Policy Office: May 12, 2006

No Child Left Behind Reauthorization: Beginning the Process

Education PPO, in partnership with Public Interest PPO has launched an effort to develop one set of comprehensive, Association-wide recommendations to the “No Child Left Behind Act,” the law that guides the federal investment in elementary and secondary education.

This undertaking is one of great importance to the American Psychological Association. The development of psychology-specific recommendations presents an opportunity for us to emphasize the role that psychology plays in elementary and secondary education as well as highlight and integrate the extraordinary research and expertise of psychologists.

To date, Education and Public Interest PPO staff have met with staff from the Education, Science, Practice and Public Interest Directorates in an effort to gauge and gain a better understanding of the range of issues that are of interest to APA members represented by different divisions, committees and task forces. APA’s Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education, a broadly representative group within the Association, has been an outstanding resource in this process and continues to contribute greatly to the reauthorization discussion.

As a follow up to those meetings, Education and Public Interest PPO staff will continue to work with APA members with expertise in specific areas alongside other APA staff to hone the list of issues and create legislative recommendations for changes to the current law.

This is a long term project. It is the goal of the Education and Public Interest PPO staff to have specific recommendations accompanied by legislative language ready when Congress convenes the 110th Congress in January 2007.

For additional information, please contact Jenny Smulson with Education Public Policy or Annie Toro with Public Interest Policy.