Dear Supporters,

   As a lifelong educator, I know that a successful democracy requires educated citizens. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 with promises of dramatic improvements in our education system, has failed to live up to those promises.

   In exchange for the opportunity to have more authority and flexibility in helping students to achieve appropriate knowledge and skills, teachers accepted more rigorous standards and assessment of their performance in the name of accountability.

   Promises kept? Promises broken!

   In reality, the federal bureaucracy wielded its heavy hand with voluminous regulations and a one-size-fits-all model that discourages flexibility, creativity, and professional judgment. In its place, we have an expensive standardized testing elephant in the classroom that treats students the same regardless of their developmental level, prior knowledge or skills.

   Promises kept? Promises broken!

   Some say we can’t afford No Child Left Behind. While funding for the program has grown from $17 billion in 2001 to $24 billion in 2007, it is not sufficient to fully execute the law. Think about it: the $30 billion cost of three months in Iraq would pay the annual tab for NCLB with change to spare!

   Promises kept? Promises broken!

   We need to transform NCLB. All evidence points to the critical importance of high quality, well-paid teachers to the learning success of students. Send me to Washington and I will work to:

• Fully fund No Child Left Behind with low income, low performing schools receiving the bulk of the assistance
• Enable our teachers to use multiple assessments to measure student progress
• Enable our teachers to utilize variable time-lines for students to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress
• Enable our teachers in closing achievement gaps and making sure students are ready to learn before when they attend school

   Thomas Jefferson said, "A nation cannot be both ignorant and free." NCLB should focus on the eradication of ignorance. NCLB should focus on an education system that prepares students to be globally competitive as broadly educated and technically skilled Americans. It will take a world class education system to reach this goal.

   We are not there yet. We need to be. We can be.

   We need to transform NCLB from a one-size-fits-all standardized testing program to one that holds professional educators accountable for their performance while allowing them to prepare those broadly educated and technically skilled Americans we desperately need. I will take the lead and work towards this transformation.

   With the change I'll bring to Washington, we will create a world class educational system where No Child is Left Behind!

Sincerely,
Larry Byrnes