U.S. lawmakers could work to reform NCLB early next year

No Child Left Behind reform efforts could see renewed focus under Sen. Lamar Alexander, the incoming chairman of the Senate committee overseeing education. Alexander says he will push for an NCLB reform bill early next year. ABC News/The Associated Press   http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/republicans-push-update-education-law-27272164

Will Congress reauthorize NCLB in the next four years?

No Child Left Behind, which expired in 2007, is no closer now to being reauthorized than it was when President Barack Obama first took office. Debate over the federal education law is expected to continue into Obama's second term, as the administration and Congress appear divided over key issues. "At the moment, it's unclear if there is a real commitment and consensus in Congress for reauthorizing [the education law]," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Friday in a speech. The Huffington Post (11/19)   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/19/no-child-left-behind-reauthorization_n_2161498.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics

Educator: Keep a high bar for students with disabilities in revised NCLB

Special educator Charles Seaton traveled recently to Washington, D.C., to take part in a Senate hearing on the re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. In this article, Seaton explains his views on how the law has helped set a higher bar for some students with disabilities. To ensure continued progress, Seaton advocates the law include requirements that ensure teacher quality and that new measures of academic accountability include students with disabilities. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) (free registration) (11/20)  http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/nov/20/guest-column-schools-need-evaluations-for/

Special-education groups are concerned over effects of NCLB changes

Some special-education advocacy groups are concerned about potential changes and waivers to the No Child Left Behind Act that they say could have negative implications for students with special needs. They say the changes being proposed by Republican lawmakers would result in more students with disabilities taking modified tests that keep them on segregated and less-challenging curriculum tracks. Instead, the groups are calling for changes that increase access for students with disabilities to the general-education curriculum and college- and career-ready standards. Education Week/On Special Education blog (9/20)  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2011/09/esea_proposals_concern_special.html