A HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, AND THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina under the Standards of Learning Accountability System has long pursued the goal of improving the academic performance of all students, especially students of racial and ethnic backgrounds, lower economic status, and limited English proficiency, and with learning disabilities or challenges; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina, therefore, applauds the President and United States Congress for putting forth the same goals in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and emphasizing the urgency in closing these achievement gaps and improving the performance of these students; and
Whereas, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has encouraged some needed changes in public education and was initially accompanied with relatively large increases in federal funding for public elementary and secondary education; and
Whereas, however, the increases in federal funding since the first year of the No Child Left Behind Act have been minimal and insignificant; and
Whereas, the federal government has decreased funding to North Carolina for No Child Left Behind Act in fiscal year 2006 by $10,777,346 and overall funding for public education by $11,931,500, including a deduction of $759,012 from programs that serve students with disabilities; and
Whereas, in addition, the federal government has cut almost $11,000,000 from postsecondary education programs in North Carolina; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives urges the President of the United States and Congress to make a serious commitment to improving the quality of the nation's public schools by substantially increasing the funding for the No Child Left Behind Act, the Higher Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and other education related programs.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives requests the President, Congress, and the United States Department of Education to offer states waivers, exemptions, or whatever flexibility possible through regulations from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act in any year that federal funding for public elementary and secondary education is decreased to prevent states from spending state and local resources on activities that are not proven effective in raising student achievement and may not be the priority of an individual state.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President, the members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation, and the United States Department of Education.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.