Utah House votes to scrap unfunded federal education mandates

[Judi Lynn]

Utah House votes to scrap unfunded federal education mandates

02/11/2004


SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Republican-dominated House voted Tuesday to make Utah the first state to scrap No Child Left Behind Act education mandates that would cost more than the federal government is willing to pay.

Republicans dropped a threat to abandon the Bush administration program altogether because that would have cost the state half of its annual federal education funding, or nearly $107 million. Instead, state representatives voted 64-8 to comply with only those mandates "where there is adequate federal funding."

It was the strongest position yet taken by lawmakers in 11 states who have introduced legislation or nonbinding resolutions challenging the 2002 education act, which has states facing deadlines to make huge leaps in student testing performance and teacher credentials. (snip)

Teachers face a requirement to have a college major for every core subject they cover. Rural Utah schools say they're lucky to attract any teachers at all, let alone ones with multiple degrees.
(snip)

http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=81896

[R Hickey]

1. This is what every state should do with these unfunded mandates

so there.

[izzie]

2. I think you are right even if some of the things are good.

It is why so much was turned over to the feds in the first place, I must say, Like food for poor Southern was so bad feds had to do things for them as the states would not do it. Northerns would have a fit it we had Mexicans living like they do in Texas.I mean who wants to live in a town with open sewers and all that.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Can a state keep its federal funding if it sets aside NCLB? Is there an

"out" clause or is the whole thing "either/or" wherein either the state does the program and keeps the money or it doesn't and loses it?

[jean]

4. I think there is not an out clause - in Mn we've heard reports

that the state would lose all fed funding if it trashed nclb.

Kudos to Utah for having the guts to at least take a first swing at *'s worthless and destructive plan. Let's hope others will follow suit.

[Oilwellian]

5. Virginia recently did the same thing

And done by a GOP dominated legislature.

[SoCalDem]

6. Utah is right on this one..

If the federal govt "mandates" something, they need to send the money along with the mandate..

[Judi Lynn]

7. kick?

:kick:

[Moderator]

8. Kick

:dem:

[ngGale]

9. Bush's signature "Leave No Child Behind" is going to...

leave all children behind in the end. This bill is my personal 'pet peave.' Not only is it underfunded, but it will eventually lead to the destruction of all public schools. Read the bill, it has so many faults, it's clueless just like GW.