Now that schools are in full swing,  numerous reports are showing most Washington state school districts are being hurt by the state losing it's "No Child Left Behind" waiver earlier this year.

The New York Times recently released a report claiming 9 out of ten districts have been negatively affected in some way in our state.

The No Child Left Behind program was noble in it's concept, but flawed in practice.  Hatched during the Bush Administration, it was an effort to improve the literacy and performance of all school districts across America.

The only problem:   It was soon found to be impossible to expect all districts to adhere to the same national standards.   Different schools in different states had widely varied needs.  Most administrators said the standards were "impossible."   So, the Department of Education issued waivers to these districts, which exempted them - as long as they showed progress and effort towards the goals.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan required WA state include teacher evaluations as at least a small part of the criteria for keeping it's NCLB waiver.  But when the State Legislature shot down that bill,  Duncan and the feds pulled the waiver.  Some $40 million dollars in federal funding went away, and now schools are hurting.

Of Mid-Columbia schools, Pasco was hit the hardest, with about $1 million dollars lost,  Kennewick $678,000 and Richland $300,000.   Much of the funding went to supplemental programs designed to assist struggling students, and to help those who were behind catch up.  For example, now the districts are having to utilize private tutors, instead of utilizing in school teachers and para-educators.

Other districts have lost additional achievement programs that have greatly boosted test scores, academic performance and even graduation rates.

How much damage is done will depend upon what the legislature does this fall.  Will they revisit the bill that meets federal standards for the waiver?  Will the powerful teacher's union (the WEA-Washington Education Association)  allow teacher evaluations to be at least a small part of performance standards?

We won't know until the session is over, but until then,  school districts - including the Mid-Columbia - will continue to take on water in the engine room as they try to sail through another school year.

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