NASSP Position Letter Regarding NCLB

March 20, 2008

Dear Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon,

On behalf of the nation’s middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and other school leaders, the undersigned organizations urge you to immediately reauthorize and improve the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), by including provisions that will positively impact middle level and high schools and their students.

The era of reform ushered in by NCLB requires principals to excel as instructional leaders working collaboratively with a variety of constituent groups. School leaders must improve teaching and learning for all students or face corrective action if their schools fail to meet mandated accountability measures. Closing the achievement gap and improving student achievement are certainly among the highest educational priorities of secondary school principals, and our members accept accountability for results. We have seen gains in student achievement that can be directly related to the law and to the emerging conversations about school reform.

See attachment for rest of letter....