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For Immediate Release
June 27, 2007
Contact: Heather Reams
Director of Communications
877-385-6264
heather@aaeteachers.org

AAE Members Speak on No Child Left Behind

Alexandria, VA—The Association of American Educators (AAE) has gotten the word from teachers about No Child Left Behind, and that word is flexibility.

In a survey of their membership, AAE has discovered that while teachers agree with several facets of the education law, more flexibility is necessary to allow teachers to do their jobs well. A one-size-fits-all system does not work. As the law comes up for reauthorization this year, AAE is urging Congress to take this first-of-its-kind survey to heart when deciding whether or not to approve NCLB.

“One of the most important actions we as an organization can take is to listen to the needs of our teachers,” said Gary Beckner, executive director of AAE. “Our teachers clearly believe in several of the facets of NCLB, but through this survey have indicated where it can be improved.”

The survey, conducted in April, asked AAE members their opinions on issues such as student assessments, differentiated pay, teacher assessments, school restructuring, and federal funding. Some of the results of the survey are as follows:

  • 86% of respondents do not feel that student assessment tests should be exclusively federally designed; however, 79% support a national test being made available to states as an optional model for student assessment;
  • 78% of respondents support incentive pay for teachers who work in hard-to-fill schools, while 61% feel the same is true for teachers in hard-to-fill subject areas;
  • 72% of respondents agree with allowing federal funds to follow students should they attend a different public school; however, only 32% agree if the student moves to a private school.

“We at AAE strive to be representative of our membership,” said Beckner. “We will only take a position on an issue if a supermajority of our members agree, and that’s not something you can say about other so-called ‘representative’ education associations.”

The Association of American Educators is the largest national, non-union professional educators’ association. AAE provides a voice for educators who believe the teacher labor unions no longer meet the needs of today’s educators. AAE respects its members’ values and does not exploit their membership dues for social agendas or political purpose. Information about AAE can be found at http://www.aaeteachers.org.