NEA, School Districts Fight No Child Law

[LynneSin]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=3&u=/ap/20050420/ap_on_go_ot/education_lawsuit

NEA, School Districts Fight No Child Law

19 minutes ago U.S. National - AP


By BEN FELLER, AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON - The nation's largest teachers union and school districts in three states are launching a legal fight over No Child Left Behind, aiming to free schools from complying with any part of the education law not paid for by the federal government.

The lawsuit, expected to be filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for eastern Michigan, is the most sweeping challenge to President Bush's signature education policy. The outcome would apply only to the districts involved but could have implications for all schools nationwide.

Leading the fight is the National Education Association, a union of 2.7 million members that represents many public educators and is financing the lawsuit. The other plaintiffs are nine school districts in Michigan, Texas and Vermont, plus 10 NEA chapters in those three states and Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah.

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The challenge is built upon one paragraph in the law that says no state or school district can be forced to spend its money on expenses the federal government has not covered.


"What it means is just what it says — that you don't have to do anything this law requires unless you receive federal funds to do it," said NEA general counsel Bob Chanin.

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[sybylla]

1. This is good news.

I'd like to see them win and win big.

[renaissanceguy]

2. Meanwhile, the WH will just label them

as 'terrists' as they did a couple years ago.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/472476

[caligirl]

3. NYT article

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Education-Lawsuit.html

[callous taoboy]

4. Kick NCLB is designed to do one thing---

Kill public schools.

[Megahurtz]

5. This could start some good publicity

against the Bush Cabal.