READ FIRST TIME 02/06/04.   

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Washington State fully supports, deeply believes, and actively pursues the goal of No Child Left Behind, all students achieving at high levels; and
     WHEREAS, We welcome the additional support No Child Left Behind has brought to focus on quality education, the improvements needed to reach all children, and the urgency nationwide to close achievement gaps; and
     WHEREAS, We support a feasible and fair accountability system; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State has attained approval and is in full compliance with the requirements provided in the regulations; and
     WHEREAS, There are four major areas in regulations and law, that if improved, will support successful implementation of No Child Left Behind; and
     WHEREAS, Some students with disabilities have cognitive disabilities that prevent them from succeeding on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, and therefore need more appropriate measures for accountability; and
     WHEREAS, Students with limited English proficiency are in their program because they cannot speak, read, or write English and therefore need more appropriate measures for accountability; and
     WHEREAS, The Act imposes additional costs for statewide professional development, certification upgrades, and the administration of newly developed assessments for teachers and paraprofessionals; and
     WHEREAS, The definition of a "highly qualified teacher" in the act fails to recognize the contributions of business and industry-trained career and technical education teachers and will increase the difficulty in recruiting and retaining these qualified, skilled teachers; and
     WHEREAS, We continue to support Washington state's continuous growth model;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President and Congress of the United States work together with state legislatures and the United States Department of Education to improve language in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and regulations concerning its implementation, to make improvements to address the issues raised in this Memorial, and to grant flexibility and changes that will ensure successful nationwide implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.