NYT: Connecticut Prepares to Sue U.S. Over Bush Education Law

Connecticut Prepares to Sue U.S. Over Bush Education Law
By SAM DILLON

Published: April 5, 2005


Connecticut's attorney general said today that he was preparing to sue the federal government over President Bush's signature education-reform law, arguing that it forces Connecticut to administer new standardized tests at a cost of millions of dollars and that Washington refuses to pay for them.

Although a handful of local school districts, in Illinois, Texas and other states have filed legal challenges to the law, known as No Child Left Behind, Connecticut would be the first state to do so.

The lawsuit would open a new chapter in a broader struggle between states and the federal government that has seen state legislatures lodge various protests over the law, and at least one state education commissioner, in Texas, issue an order this year that appeared to directly contradict a federal ruling.

The Connecticut attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat first elected in 1992, said that he was announcing his plans now because he is about to contact attorneys general in other states to seek co-plaintiffs or other allies for the legal battle.

"The federal government's approach with this law is illegal and unconstitutional," Mr. Blumenthal said in an interview. He declined to predict whether any of his colleagues elsewhere would join his action, but he said he was finding "fertile ground."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/nyregion/05cnd-child.html?hp&ex=1112760000&en=df4dc33e97923483&ei=5094&partner=homepage

If he got a bunch of states to sign on, maybe we'd get some attention to what a disaster NCLB is.

Rote memorization is a component of Prussian educational systems. Isn't it also a big part of NCLB?

the most stupid piece of legislation ever created.

This ought to be interesting!

last year--best record of kids going on to higher education. We're also one of the few in compliance with the NCLB law as of now, I believe. That involves having the kids take the test two weeks after the school year begins when they are are at critical "brain drain" levels, but that just goes to show how stupid the whole scheme is.

Those also might be a couple of reasons why Blumenthal decised to go for it. CT is in good position to argue the law on its (de)merits.

I wish he'd run for governor, a photographer friend that took his picture for an award last year said he was adamently NOT thinking of doing so, but he'd be a shoo-in. Managed to keep the banks ATM fees out of the state for years. They eventually won tho.

...in good shape. Oh. And elect a Democratic governor.

Lori Price

That last presidential bid was the last straw.

in this case, I say: Go Dick!

strongly pro-choice, consumer friendly, excellent!

I want him as president! He is so good.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-leftbehind0406.artapr06,0,7440255.story?coll=hc-headlines-local

Connecticut raised the stakes in its dispute with federal education officials over school testing Tuesday, pledging to become the first state to file a lawsuit challenging the government's No Child Left Behind Act.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced plans to sue the U.S. Department of Education for requiring Connecticut to expand its student testing program without providing enough money to cover the cost.


Blumenthal and Spitzer for Prez/VP in 2008!

Redstone

Richard Blumenthal is CT's Attorney General
http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=B71B3FBA-8FEC-40E6-8AFF-AAC8E7DA8D33

Hartford — State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday that he plans to sue the U.S. Department of Education over its failure to fully fund the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act, which he said violates the act itself and the U.S. Constitution.

In a press conference at his office, Blumenthal said he expected other states to join the suit, which will charge the department with failing to abide by legal language that says the government cannot impose new educational requirements on schools if it does not pay for them.

“Essentially,” he said, “we want the federal government to obey the law and provide funding for what it mandates.”

The No Child Left Behind Act includes a rare provision –– only one other federal law like it exists, Blumenthal said –– that explicitly bars the federal government from requiring states to spend funds “not paid for under this Act.”
<SNIP>

CT is the FIRST state to sue the federal government over its NCLB requirements. Hope more follow suit.

Praying for a victory :)

I'm right in the thick of it, teaching third grade. NCLB is making everyone crazy, tired, and sick of school. I'd always loved my job until this crap came down the pike.

I always thought Blumenthal was a class act

About time someone called them to task for requiring this, promising funding, and not supplying it. Rock on :bounce:

It's time to stop with the unfunded mandates!