Arizona eyes dumping NCLB

 The Arizona House of Representatives is on the verge of opting out of the controversial No Child Left Behind Act, President Bush’s premier educational accomplishment. On a voice vote Wednesday, March 26, 2008, the House approved a bill sponsored by state Representative David Schapira, D-Tempe, that would make Arizona the first state in the nation to leave behind the act and its education mandates. It would take effect on July 1, 2010.

But it would leave the state with a $600 million hole in its schools budget, as it would lose federal education dollars by opting out of the program. That’s a cost that some lawmakers, as well as state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, say isn’t worth it, no matter how big the principle at stake. Read more in The Arizona Republic and The East Valley Tribune.