NCLB Left Behind:

New Report to Detail Growing Grassroots
Rebellion Against Controversial Federal Act

Posted August 17, 2005
by: Ailis Aaron

Study:

47 States already in varying stages of revolt against NCLB; 5 States (MN, ME, NV, NJ and VA) are poised to be biggest battlegrounds in 2005-2006, with 3 States (CT, UT and CO) already in "Open Revolt".

Washington, D.C. - News Advisory

As American children and their teachers head back to school, the widespread grassroots rebellion against the controversial No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has taken root in 47 of the 50 states and is likely to gain new momentum during the 2005-2006 school year, according to a detailed analysis from NCLBgrassroots.org, a project of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (CSI).

The major new report will be released during a live, phone-based news event (with full Q & A) at 1:30 p.m. ET on August 17, 2005. News event speakers will be:

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal;
Utah State Rep. Margaret Dayton, Orem, UT;
Minnesota State Rep. Mindy Greiling, Roseville, MN;
Laredo (TX) Independent School District Assistant Superintendent of Schools Sylvia Bruni;
Parents for Public Schools Board President Lisa Schiff, San Francisco, CA; and
Civil Society Institute President Pam Solo.

Entitled "NCLB Left Behind: Understanding the Growing Grassroots Rebellion Against a Controversial Law," the new NCLBgrassroots.org report provides a detailed look at the various aspects of the grassroots backlash in 47 states against NCLB, including the three states (Colorado, Connecticut and Utah) already in "open revolt" and the five states (Minnesota, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey and Virginia) expected to be the biggest hot spots of NCLB opposition during the 2005-2006 school year.

To Participate:

To participate in the live, two-way telenews event (with Q & A), dial 1 (800) 860-2442 by 1:30 p.m. ET on August 17, 2005. Ask for the "NCLB Left Behind" news event.

Can't Participate?:

A streaming audio replay of the call will be available on the Web at NCLBgrassroots.org as of 6 p.m. ET on August 17, 2005.

More Information:

For More Information, Contact: Ailis Aaron via E-mail or call (703) 276-3265.

The nonprofit Civil Society Institute is based in Newton, Massachusetts. The mission of the Institute is to serve as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business, that can help to improve society. Visit Civil Society Institute.

NCLBgrassroots.org monitors how communities across the U.S. are addressing the challenges of the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. While the law's goals of improved student achievement and school accountability have been embraced by many, there is growing concern that NCLB's implementation and its emphasis on labeling schools as failures undermine children's learning and weaken local control of schools. The Web site at NCLBgrassroots.org seeks to capture and convey the sentiments of the growing concern about NCLB by tracking related developments in all 50 states.