Both Idaho senators want the federal government to butt out of secondary education rule-making and mandates, although they have no problem with federal funding for schools. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has written a bill that would wipe out federal standards for curriculum, student achievement, standardized testing or allocation of resources under the national No Child Left Behind law.
As he put it, "the federal government must not be a national school board. Local leaders know what's best for their students." Crapo added, "the federal government can be a willing partner in funding education, but it should not pressure states through funding."
Many Idahoans complain that state achievement tests set up to meet nationwide requirements are an example of federal overreach and should be subject to local or state veto.
Crapo's bill comes just as the Obama administration asks Congress to re-write the Bush-era law. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is calling for less emphasis on tests and classroom time given to preparing for them, although they must still be mandatory. Duncan said that parents and teachers have the right and the need to know how much progress students make each year.
