Chamber Praises New Report from the No Child Left Behind Commission

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Arthur Rothkopf issued the following statement on today's release of Beyond NCLB: Fulfilling the Promise to Our Nation's Children, a report issued by the Commission on No Child Left Behind.

"The Chamber applauds the Commission for its efforts over the past year in reaching out to states, business leaders, educators, and parents to obtain a deeper understanding of how the No Child Left Behind law has been implemented. The Commission found that while the law has significantly increased our nation's focus on accountability, it should and must do more."

"The Chamber has arrived at a similar conclusion, and it shares, in principle, many of the same recommendations put forth by the Commission. In particular, we believe that our education system can and must do a better job of ensuring that all students in America graduate high school academically prepared for a postsecondary education and the workforce. To accomplish this goal, we agree with the Commission that states must work more closely with universities and the business community to set rigorous standards.

"The Chamber and the Commission also believe that the definition of a highly qualified teacher should go beyond certification to include a demonstrated impact on improving student achievement.

"The Chamber looks forward to working with the Commission as Congress moves toward a swift renewal and strengthening of NCLB."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

www.uschamber.com

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07-27